Under the draft, dated Jan. 4, which a copy was obtained by The Jakarta Post late on Thursday, mining companies can still export partly processed mineral products, and that a decree from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will determine the commodities eligibility for export.

"It's like giving the energy and mineral resources minister carte blanche in determining which commodities can and cannot be exported," an official involved in discussing the draft told the Post on Friday.

(Read also: Latest draft regulation to allow partly processed mineral exports)

The latest draft was put together by the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister, with input from various officials. The draft was submitted to the Law and Human Rights Ministry on Wednesday.

(Read also: New regulation on raw mineral exports inches away from becoming official: Minister)

In a previous draft, submitted by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister on Dec. 28, it had clearly prohibited nickel and bauxite from being exported.

"With the prohibition lifted for nickel and bauxite from the previous draft, it is very possible the commodities can be exported as it will only need ministerial approval," said the official.

(Read also: Minister Luhut opposes ease in raw mineral exports)

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan remained tight-lipped on the issue, saying only that he had sent the draft to Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution.

“We have already sent the draft, it is all up to him [Darmin],” he said on Thursday.