Harita Prima calls for relaxation of export ban policy

Bauxite mining company PT Harita Prima Abadi Mineral, a joint venture between IDX-listed mining company PT Cita Mineral Investindo Tbk and PT Harita Jayaraya, has requested for the government to relax the mineral ore export ban policy by allowing the company to resume bauxite export as the progress of its domestic smelter project has reached 39.8 percent.

Bisnis Indonesia quoted Harita Prima President Director Erry Sofyan as saying Monday that the company needs extra income from the bauxite export to complete the Rp 12 trillion smelter project.

?We hope to be treated the same as PT Freeport Indonesia and PT Newmont Mining Corp,? he said. The government has allowed the two companies to continue exporting copper concentrates until 2017.

But Director General of Mineral and Coal R. Sukhyar said the government could not approve Harita?s request as existing regulation bans the export of bauxite ores as it must first be processed and refined at home. (*)