DPR Bans Freeport's Concentrate Export  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission VII has banned Freeport Indonesia from exporting concentrates because the company is considered to be incapable of building smelter. The ban came during a hearing with Freeport.

"If export continues, it violates the Mineral and Coal Law," said DPR Commission VII member Hadi Mulyadi on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.

DPR considered the signing of MoU for PT Petrokimia's land leasing by Freeport to be too rushed. It was even recently discovered that Freeport has not applied for a permit to the Gresik Regency Government.

Ramson Siagian, Commission VII member from the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, attacked Freeport with a lot of questions. He said Freeport has not had a permit for building a smelter. Freeport Indonesia president director Maroef Sjamoedin remains silent on the matter.

Kurtubi, Commission VII member from the National Democratic Party, said that if Freeport continues to export copper concentrates, the government will have no information regarding its content because every concentrate contains different levels of minerals, such as copper, gold or silver, depending on the time of the dredging.

The DPR also questioned Energy and Mineral Minister Sudirman Said's policy that grants an export permit for Freeport.

ROBBY IRFANY