TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said said that he would amend regulation on mineral concentrate export. The minister plans to extend export period for minerals that have not been refined in smelters by revising the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Regulation No. 1/2014 (Regulation). "Because many companies face financial difficulties, which hamper them from constructing smelters," Sudirman said on Tuesday, February 16, 2016.

The Regulation stipulates that mining companies can only export six types of mineral concentrate, including copper, ironsand, iron ores, zinc, lead, and manganese, up until 2017. Meanwhile, six other types of mineral, including gold, nickel, silver, tin, bauxite, and chromium, can only be exported after being refined.

However, mining companies' refining activities were hampered because smelter construction efforts were affected by the dropping prices of mineral commodities in the global market. One of the hindered smelter constructions is the construction of PT Freeport Indonesia’s smelter in Gresik, East Java, which had only reached 11 percent development.

Minister Sudirman however, said that the revision of the Regulation can only be carried out after the Law on Mineral and Coal (Law No. 4/2009) has been amended. Therefore, Sudirman explained that head requested for inputs from businesses, expert, and legislative members.

Fadel Muhammad, Deputy Chief of Commission VII of the House of Representatives said that the Commission is still waiting recommendations from the Minister Sudirman in relation to the more relaxed concentrate export provision. The recommendation, according to Fadel, will be discussed in a meeting on the revision of the Law No. 4/2009, which is expected to be completed in the middle of 2016.

ROBBY IRFANY