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Govt considers curbs on processed nickel exports
The government is mulling over plans to ban or restrict the export of processed nickel products containing less than 70 percent nickel.
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Work is carried out in this undated picture at the Pomalaa nickel smelter in Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi, operated by state-owned metal mining firm PT Aneka Tambang (Antam). (Handout/Antam)
T
he Investment Ministry is mulling over plans to ban or restrict the export of processed nickel products with less than 70 percent nickel content.
Speaking at a virtual conference on Sept. 17, Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the government was planning to ban exports of processed products containing 30 to 40 percent nickel to preserve Indonesia’s nickel reserves and develop the downstream mining industry.
Indonesian Nickel Mining Association (APNI) secretary-general Meidy Katrin Lengkey said the regulation would encourage investors to build a domestic industry for finished products.
However, she added that the government needed to ensure that regulations were in place to accommodate downstream industry development, adequate infrastructure and demand.
“The government must ensure the domestic market is ready to absorb the products,” Meidy told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
During the press conference, Bahlil added that nickel products should have at least 70 percent nickel content to be allowed for export. However, he also said that, should a company want to export products containing 30 to 40 percent nickel, he did not rule out the possibility of imposing an export tax instead of a ban.
“We are still crafting [the regulation],” he said on Sept. 17.
