JAKARTA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia hopes to raise 3.57-billion-U.S. dollars investment in mining and geothermal energy next year, representing an increase of more than 90 percent of realized one this year, the Jakarta Post quoted an senior official as saying on Monday.

    "This year, the government predicted that investment in the sector would reach 2.33 billion dollars, but only 80 percent of the target has been achieved so far," said Witoro Soelarno, the Secretary to the Directorate General for Mineral, Coal and Geothermal Energy at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

    Next year will be another important year for the country's mining industry as four long awaited implementation regulations to the new mining law are expected to be issued in January.

    Witoro said that the implemented regulations, covering mining areas, coal and mineral businesses, mining supervision, reclamation and post-mining issues, are expected to provide legal certainty and boost investor's confidence in developing the country's mining and geothermal reserves.

    However, Witoro added that major investment next year would still come from existing concessions rather than mew mining licenses issued under recent law.

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