State Losses; Luhut Asks KPK to Handle Nickel Export Manipulation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan revealed that the data on nickel export has been manipulated, causing millions of US dollars in state losses. The minister said the government must interfere to avoid situations like these. 

"Nickel ores are being smuggled, the amount is three times the allowed [export] volume. The grade is also more than 1.7," he said in Manado, Friday, November 1.

Luhut has asked the Corruption Eradication Commission to help address the situation. "The government wants the KPK to play a strategic role. As in the downstream government program, there is massive manipulation of hundreds of millions of dollars, it could reach trillions of rupiah," he said.

Luhut said the government supports the Investment Coordinating Board's (BKPM) decision to stop nickel exports because of the violation.

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said they have been asked by Luhut to review and monitor nickel production policies in the downstream sector. The request came after a surge in the monthly export volume of nickel ores. If the past two months, there had been 100 to 130 monthly shipments, far above the normal volume of 30 shipments per month.

Febri said the KPK has held coordination meetings with the ministry to discuss the situation. Two meetings were held on October 24 and 25, and another is on October 31.

ANTARA