REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia will ban the export of mineral ores from January 12, 2014, following the issuance of Law Number 4 of 2009 on Minerals and Coal Mining. The government and the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII, in a meeting here on Thursday, agreed to implement the ban from January 12.

All the nine party factions in the Commission agreed with the decision

"Given the full support of all the nine political party factions in parliament, I can now proceed with ease," Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik said after a meeting with Commission VII members.

He admitted the decision, in the beginning, would have a negative impact on mining companies. He added that during the meeting, he had requested for certain exemptions, but the request was refused by the House.

"The House believe that after the ban comes into effect, mining companies will adjust to the new situation and start to construct smelters," he noted.

The minister said 28 smelters are, so far, under construction across the country. He noted that if mineral ore exports are stopped, more smelters would be constructed. "If smelters are built quickly, then mining operations will not be disrupted for too long," he added.

Jero Wacik also shrugged off worries about mining companies taking the government to court over the ban.

"We are a nation and nothing can threaten us. We must not be afraid," he said.

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