Officials make conflicting comments on planned mineral export tax

Er Audy Zandri

The plan to impose export tax on mineral remained unclear with high-ranking officials including Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Widjajono Partowidagdo and the Ministry?s Director of Coal Business Development Edy Prasodjo making conflicting statements.

Widjajono admitted he only read the issue from newspaper, saying ?(Imposing) export tax can help reduce the over excessive exploitation (on minerals) before 2014. It is definitely a necessary step," he told Petromindo.com on the sidelines of the declaration meeting of The Communication Forum for the People in Mining Resources Area on Wednesday in Jakarta.

He did not confirm on whether the draft of regulation for the planned export tax has been made.

Another official Edy clearly rejected to comment on that issue, saying "I cannot give any comment on the matter to avoid further complication to the market. The proposition is still being discussed and I am not authorized to give any comment," he said.

Official from Finance Ministry as quoted by Kontan admitted the proposal for a 15 percent export tax on mineral was submitted by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

It remains unclear whether the proposed export tax would be applied to all kinds of mineral and coal.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora