46 mining companies granted permits to export ores

As many as 46 mining companies have received permits to export ores or raw minerals from the government since the introduction of export restrictions on unprocessed metals in May, this year, Kontan reported on Tuesday.

Director General of Mineral and Ores, Thamrin Sihite, said in Jakarta on Monday that the number of the companies which had received permits to export ores increased from 36 in early July.

He said that all the companies which had received permits had received clear and clean status such as having no problems with their mining permits and mining areas as well as environmental protection.

In May, the government asked all mining companies to submit plans to build smelters as part of their preparation to implement the regulation which would ban them to export raw minerals beginning in 2014.

At the same time, the government also imposes a 20 percent tax on raw exports. In order to be able export they should also receive an export permit, which is issued only after the miners received clear and clean status.

Thamrin did not name the companies which had been granted mining permits but said that the permits were issued for exports of nickel, bauxite, manganese, iron, aluminum and copper. (*)