Government will gradually ban tin ore exports

The Ministry of Industry and Trade issued a ruling on the restriction of tin ore exports on Thursday by placing the tin ore in the list of strategic commodities that should be controlled by the government. After six months or a year, the tin ore would be totally banned, Kompas reported on Friday.

?I have signed the regulation today,? Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandi.

?The export restriction is needed to curb rampant illegal tin mining activities on Bangka island,? she added.

The minister said that the tin ore exports especially from Bangka island should be restricted to eliminate the illegal tin ore mining operations which have caused a major destruction to the environment on the island.

According Director General of Foreign Trade Sudar, the measure to place the tin ore as a strategic commodity that requires the government?s control would be a transitional policy before fully banning the export of the commodity.

He said that the full ban on the tin ore could be issued within six months or a year after the issuance of the restriction. (*)