Lack of suppply is not an excuse, says Thamrin

By Bambang Atmaja

The government has asserted that lack of supply of certain mineral ores could not be used as reason for not building smelters.

Thamrin Sihite, Director General on coal and mineral at the energy and mineral resources ministry said that the supply of mineral ores could also come from offshore mines.

"The supply of more raw material can be sourced from anywhere (including overseas)," he told Petromindo.com. "Take Japan as an example, the country has no supply source of mineral ores. We can also be like Japan, why not?" said Sihite.

Executive Director of Indonesian Mining Association (IMA) Syahrir AB earlier said that smelter for zinc may not be constructed as its reserve is not sufficient for one processing unit.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora