Mineral Export Regulation Not Only for Freeport: Minister
12 February 2016 11:06 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Badung - Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said clarified that the ministerial regulation on mineral exports was not only drafted for PT Freeport Indonesia, but also for other mining companies in Indonesia.
“Companies that can gain benefits from this regulation are those who have similar [financial] problems with Freeport’s,” Sudirman said in Nusa Dua, Bali on Thursday, February 11, 2016.
Sudirman called on public not to focus only on Freeport following the issuance of Energy Minister Regulation No.5/2016. Sudirman said that changes made in the new regulation were not fundamental compared to the similar one issued in 2014.
“The new regulation requires [mining companies] to pay export duty if the smelter development progress remains sluggish,” Sudirman explained.
According to Sudirman, the new regulation was aimed at helping mining companies with their financial issues.
Earlier, the government was accused of providing Freeport with a special treatment by issuing the new regulation. Freeport has now gained the export permit, which has been in effect since February 10, 2016.
KHAIRUL ANAM