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Return of sea sand exports sparks controversy in Indonesia
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A stockpile of sand is pictured in Singapore on June 26, 2019. (Reuters/Edgar Su)
T
he government lifted a ban this month on the export of dredged sand that was in place for more than 20 years, in a move it claims will bring in badly needed revenue but that activists say will further degrade the country’s vital marine ecosystems.
The regulation was signed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on May 15 and took effect on the same date. It allows mining permit holders to collect and export sea sand provided domestic needs have been met.
The approved uses for the sand include land reclamation and private and state infrastructure development.
While miners welcomed the decision, environmentalists have slammed the policy, warning that it will lead to an increase in sand extraction, which they say will be detrimental to coastal dwellers dependent on ocean ecosystems.
“This reveals the true face of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who doesn’t care too much about protecting the sea and fishermen,” Parid Ridwanuddin, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Read also: Indonesia to allow Freeport, Amman Mineral to ship copper concentrate until 2024
Parid said sand dredging had caused a number of islands in the Thousand Islands regency north of Jakarta and the Riau Islands to disappear below the water, in addition to the 0.8 to 1 meter that was lost to rising seas each year. Many more islands were now at heightened risk because of the new regulation, he added.
