Luhut Reveals Alleged Illegal Export of Nickel to China

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the alleged illegal export of 5.3 million tonnes of nickel ore to China. He asked the public to wait for the results.

“Just wait for it,” Luhut said on the sideline event of the National Strategy for Corruption Eradication (Stranas PK) at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

Luhut claimed that examining the case is an easy matter because Indonesia already has a system that monitors exports of goods.  The anti-graft agency is checking the issue directly.

“It is been tracked by him (KPK chairperson Firli Bahuri). It’s easy to do it because we already have the ecosystem, Pak Firli immediately checks it to China,” Luhut said. He made the statement while being accompanied by Firli Bahuri.

Previously, the KPK revealed that it suspected illegal nickel exports from Indonesia to China totaling 5.3 million tonnes of nickel ore during 2020-2022. The practice was deemed illicit as Indonesia bans the export of raw nickel.

The KPK's discoveries are based on the calculation of the amount of nickel ore exports from Indonesia to China. There was a difference in the export value reaching trillions of Rupiah.

ROSSENO AJI | RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

Editor's Choice: Indonesia to Export Rice to China, Saudi Arabia

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News