(Reuters) – Indonesia’s vice minister for energy and minerals, a key policy maker in the government’s drive to tighten mining regulations and reform the energy sector, died on Saturday while mountain walking, said a senior government official.

Widjajono Partowidagdo was a central player in a government decision expected soon on whether to impose a 25 percent tax on mining exports this year and a 50 percent tax in 2013. He also played an important role in fuel subsidy policy.

“This tragic news would be a shock for the energy ministry amid the recent fuel price hike decision as he held a key position in formulating and communicating the government’s policy to the public,” said Kurtubi, an oil and gas expert.

“It may cause a delay in other energy and mining policies,” Kurtubi told Reuters.

Partowidagdo, 60, collapsed after having walked to the summit of Mount Tambora on Sumbawa island in eastern Indonesia and died before he could be brought to hospital, a senior government official said.

“It’s confirmed that the vice minister has passed away,” Thamrin Sihite, a director general in the ministry told Reuters. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was yet to name a replacement, a spokesman for the president said.

A series of mining and minerals regulations announced this year have rattled investors in the country, which is the world’s top exporter of thermal coal and refined tin and has a big minerals sector.

The regulations include a plan under which some foreign mining companies must divest 51 percent within 10 years and a proposed ban on the export of some unprocessed metals by 2014.

Parliament on March 31 rejected a government plan to raise fuel prices by one-third this month, but legislators did give the president the power to raise prices – cutting expensive state subsidies – under certain conditions.

Partowidagdo was a keen amateur climber who during a recent interview proudly described his climbs and walks up Indonesia’s tallest peaks.

“He was a person with high integrity. In the energy ministry, people called us the dynamic duo. I took care of macro economic and politics while he took care of the details of the energy industry,” Energy and Minerals Minister Jero Wacik told Reuters.

印尼能源与矿产政策关键人物去世

据印尼政府高级官员称，印尼能源与矿产资源部副部长，帮助政府推动紧缩采矿条例和能源部改革的关键人物Widjajono Partowidagdo于上周六在爬山过程中不幸去世。

印尼政府正在考虑作出决策，2012年对煤炭和基本金属征收25%的出口税，并将在2013年升至50%。Widjajono Partowidagdo是推动该决策的一位关键人物。

印尼政府今年宣布的一系列矿产条例已引起了国内投资者的担忧。条例计划让一些外国采矿企业在10年内出让51%的份额，并计划2014年前禁止出口未加工金属材料。

另悉：印尼将在5月6日实施镍矿出口监管，只有持有能源和矿产资源部推荐信的生产者，才有资格申请出口许可证，但目前哪些企业获得推荐资格尚不明确。

有市场消息称Widjajono Partowidagdo是分管印尼镍矿禁运的副部长，职责包括制定矿产开采和出口的相关条例。

Widjajono Partowidagdo的去世使得印尼相关政策实施的具体细节的不确定性更强。

据称，Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono总统已任命他人替代此职务。