Govt to limit surging export of mineral ores

By Bambang Atmaja

Five Indonesian ministers are to meet next week to seek a solution to ease surging exports of ores of iron, copper, bauxite, and nickel that have hovered between 500 percent to 800 percent in the last three years, and other ore metals, Industry Minister M.S. Hidayat said.

The five ministers are Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo and Industry Minister Hidayat said that the ministers would also seek a way to limit the increased exploitation of unprocessed mining products.

"So I hope we are able to restrict (the surging export). The meeting aims to limit the exports unprocessed ores of the four commodities that have risen by 500 percent to 800 percent since three years ago," he told Petromindo.com at the Presidential Palace compound. He declined to elaborate on the exact day of the meeting.

He said that the government would make the exporters not so easy to ship the unprocessed mine products overseas and will require them to process the raw materials in Indonesia.

"We will make an acceptable rule that will make it not so easy to just bulk sale unprocessed mining products overseas. It is better for them to bring their investment and build the industry here. We will provide the raw material and incentives," he said.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora