Govt considers putting limits on tin exports

The central government and the Bangka Belitung provincial administration are considering several options to allow the state, particularly the province, to gain a maximum benefit from tin mining.

 

One of the options is putting limits on tin exports.

 

“There has been an idea (of limiting tin exports). But, no decision has been made,” Director General of Coal, Mineral and Geothermal Resources at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Simon F. Sembiring said on Tuesday after a meeting with Banga Belitung governor Eko Supriyanto and officials from the Ministry of Trade.

 

According to Eko, the meeting was part of the coordinating effort for the province to get a maximum benefit from tin mining.

 

Bangka Belitung is one of the world’s largest producers of tin. It is the home base of state owned tin mining company PT Timah, which is the world’s largest integrated tin mining company.

 

Eko said at current production, tin resources in the province would last for another 15 years.

 

On the other hand, the province needs income from the commodity to finance the development of infrastructure so that its economy, which now depends on tin mining and trade, could continue to develop after the depletion of tin resources.

 

“It is not easy to build infrastructure in 15 years. Thus, we want that (the tin resources could last) more than 15 years,” Eko said.

 

Eko also the provincial administration and the central government are also considering introducing another brand for tin produced in Bangka Belitung. Thus far, tin metal produced in the province carry either Timah or Koba Tin’s brands. Koba Tin, which is controlled by Malaysian Smelting Corporation (MSC), is the country’s second largest tin producer.

 

According to Eko, the provincial and central governments considering another brand for tins produced by independent smelters which recently gained export licenses from the government.

 

This is to prevent them from sending their products to Malaysia or Thailand in order to just get brands.

 

“The measure could also prevent smuggling,” Eko said. (Godang)