The finance ministry wishes to take part in renegotiation on 76 coal mining work contracts in order to ensure optimum state revenue from this sector, Finance Minister Agus Martowardoyo said.

"We have to take anticipatory steps. The government has never been involved in the conclusion of mining work contracts although they do affect state income such as taxe and so forth. In this case we should not stay silent, we have to be active," Agus said here Thursday.

The minister said the president`s request on renegotiation of mining work contracts should be heeded.

At present, more than 40 mineral industry work contracts and 8,000 mining concessions needed to be reviewed.

He said the finance ministry was never involved in talks on extension of the concessions and the conclusion of coal exploitation work contracts and other types of work contracts.