Indonesia to Issue Freeport Export Permit This Week

Budi said that the ministry is currently processing the amendment of Ministry of Trade  Regulation (Permendag) No.19 of 2021 concerning Export Policy and Regulation. “We expect to finalize the Permendag this week,” he said in his office, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

It is known that Freeport has not been able to export copper concentrate abroad even with the issuance of relaxation before the ban on raw minerals entered into force back in June 2023. Budi reassured that the permit will be issued sooner than later since the Ministry of EMR already issued a technical recommendation as part of the requirements. Ministry of Trade will also accelerate the amendment process of Permendag No.19 of 2021. 

Meanwhile, the relaxed permit for PT Freeport had to be issued following the one-year delay of the smelter development. This exemption is given only to companies with more than a 50% rate of completion. According to Energy Minister Arifin Tasrin, the legal basis for this relaxation is the Decision of Energy Minister No.89 of 2023 concerning the Guideline of Administrative Fee on  Domestic Development of Metal Purification Facility Delay.

PT Freeport will be sanctioned with a 5% of refundable deposit from total sales in the 2019 to 2022 period. If the smelter development does not reach a 90% rate of completion from the target, the deposit will be transferred to the state.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI