Government may regulate tin exports
Saturday, December 29 2001 - 02:01 AM WIB
The government may regulate tin exports in a bid to curb illegal tin mining activities in the country, particularly in Bangka island, Kompas daily reported on Saturday.
The director general of foreign trade at the ministry of trade and industry Sudar SA said in Jakarta on Friday that as tin is categorized as a free commodity, all companies including those involved in illegal mining activities in Bangka island could easily export the tin ore.
He said that the government has suffered a great financial loss from the operation of the illegal tin miners, who besides caused environmental destruction also paid no royalties to the government.
Sudar said that he and senior officials from the ministry of energy and mineral resources would soon visit Bangka to discuss the plan with the local government. (*)