Indonesia Announces Bauxite Export Ban

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia in a press conference on Wednesday said that the government plans to ban bauxite export this year. He insisted that this export ban, which followed the nickel export ban, coincides with President Joko Widodo's instruction. 

“We have to create added value. Let's not sell our country. In the past, I also sold my country, mine wood. But this shouldn’t be repeated,” said Minister Bahlil on April 27.

Apart from bauxite, he said the government will possibly ban the export of another popular raw material, lead. Indonesia is the second-largest producer of lead behind China, Bahlil explained.

However, Indonesia is also the largest exporter of the raw material which means this commodity is not processed at its full potential domestically. 

The minister assured that the export ban will be enforced gradually through several phases starting from this year until 2023. He said that the government is focusing on downstream raw materials to be turned into semi-finished raw materials or finished goods.

“Surely, nickel will not be the only banned raw material,” the minister said.

However, he acknowledged that implementing the export ban on bauxite will affect Indonesia’s investment climate. But he assured that the government is setting the direction of the industry to reach the expected economic transformation.

Read: Police, Customs Office Monitor CPO Derivative Export Ban Policy 

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA