JAKARTA, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's trade ministry issued on Thursday a regulation to export nickel and bauxite for producers operating in the country, containing various degrees of limitations to export the two mining products out from Indonesia.
With the new regulation, registered as Trade Minister Regulation No. 1/2017, Indonesia bans export on mining products formed in raw ores, allowing the trade ministry officers to take part in the checking process to assure the regulation is well-respected.
"This regulation takes into effect since Feb. 1," Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, who signed the regulation mid last month, said in his office here.
The new regulation requires maximum nickel content of 1.7 percent in the ore for export and a maximum volume of 30 percent from total production capacity of refinery ran by the nickel mining firm.
Meanwhile for bauxite export, producers allowed in doing so were the ones whose smelter construction projects in the country are underway at present. The ministry requires them to undertake washing process prior to the export with minimum bauxite content in the ore for export is set at 42 percent.
The regulation was issued after government's vow to revise the existing regulations on mineral mining sector in a bid to reduce the nation's export on raw mining materials.
To address the aim, Indonesia has required foreign mining firms to set up smelter facilities to process the mineral ores into processed goods in Indonesia.
Reports said that as of last year 22 nickel mining firms already set up their smelters in Indonesia.
