REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The energy and mineral resources ministry (ESDM) said there are plans to build 112 units of mineral smelters in the country and some of them have been nearing completion.
By November, 23 units of the smelters were more than 80 percent completed or ready for commissioning, data at the ministry said.
Other smelter projects are still in the early phase of implementation with some not even having feasibility studies.
The construction of the smelters followed the law requiring producers of minerals to process their ores in the country.
Currently, only producers having own smelter projects or project in cooperation with other companies are allowed to export mineral ores.
As from January next year, exports of mineral ores would be banned. The policy is to increase the added value of the mineral and to create more jobs.
Based on data at the ESDM, Indonesia exported 465 million tons of nickel ores, 16.11 million tons of iron ore and sand, 47.01 million tons of bauxite and 1.02 million tons of copper concentrate.
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