Requirements for minerals export tightened

The government has further tightened the requirements for mineral ore exports following the introduction of a new regulation by the Minister of Trade, requiring exporters to be registered with the ministry and export verification process, reports said Saturday.

The Kontan daily said that in order for miners to be able to be registered with the Ministry of Trade, they must get recommendation letter from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the necessary legal documents of their companies.

The government has appointed two surveyor companies PT Sucofindo and PT Surveyor Indonesia to carry out the pre-shipment inspection process.

The government on January 12 began implementing the long-planned banned on the export of mineral ores as mandated by the 2009 Mining Law in a bid to generate greater value added from the country?s mineral resources by forcing miners to process the ores at domestic smelters. However, following eleventh-hour negotiations with the mining industry, the government watered down the export ban policy, allowing the so-called six mineral concentrates including copper to be sold overseas until 2017.

Meanwhile, Natsir Mansyur, Head of the Indonesian Gold and Copper Association (ATEI), criticized the new requirements, which he said have been issued without prior consultation with the industry, as it would only lengthen the export bureaucracy. (*)