New ruling on export of nickel, bauxite ores expected soon
Monday, February 27 2017 - 01:02 AM WIB
Petromindo|Thomas
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan is expected to soon issue a new ministerial regulation on technical guidelines for the export of low grade nickel ores and washed bauxite.
Director General of Mineral and Coal at the ministry Bambang Gatot Ariyono said Sunday that the new regulation is expected to be issued within one or two weeks.
He said that once the technical guidelines, which among others will include export quota and allocation for domestic smelters, have been issued the miners can apply for export recommendation letter with the ministry, which is necessary to obtain export permit from the Ministry of Trade.
The government last month introduced a new Government Regulation No 1/2017 and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No 5/2017 allowing among others for the export of low grade nickel ores with purity of less than 1.7 percent and washed bauxite with purity of less than 42 percent.
Corporate Secretary of IDX-listed mining firm PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam) Trenggono Sutioso was quoted by Bisnis Indonesia as saying that the company is waiting for technical guidelines before starting the export of low grade nickel ores.
Meanwhile, Head of the Indonesia Bauxite and Iron Ores Association (APB3I) Erry Sofyan was quoted by Kontan as saying Monday that an estimated 10 million-12 million tons of iron ores are ready for export. (*)