Below is a list with tagged columns and company profiles.

Today's Headlines Smelters

  • Preparing Strategies to Tackle the Japan-Indonesia Export Ban Conflict

    The government of Indonesia has been preparing strategies to face Japan's possible complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) about Indonesia's recently introduced export ban of mineral ore (UU Minerba No. 4 - 2009). A special team from Indonesia's Trade Ministry, headed by Gusmardi Bustami, has been set up to handle the dispute. Japan feels forced to bring the export ban case to the WTO because its industry is highly dependent on the supply of certain raw Indonesian commodities, particularly nickel.

    Read more ›

  • Japan to World Trade Organization over Indonesia's Mineral Export Ban

    The government of Japan is most likely to file a complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) about Indonesia's recently introduced ban on the export of mineral ore (UU Minerba No. 4 - 2009). Although the WTO is yet to receive a formal letter of protest, Indonesian newspaper Investor Daily reported on Friday (04/04) that Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi has already received a letter from Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs in which the step was announced. Japan feels forced to bring the case to the WTO as its industry is affected by the ban.

    Read more ›

  • Government Aims to Limit Coal Production of Indonesia in 2014

    Chairman of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) Bob Kamandanu expects that Indonesia's coal production will decline about 5 percent to 400 million tons in 2014 after the government asked miners to scale back production rates in order to safeguard future domestic supplies as the country needs sufficient energy resources for its future energy supply. Amid low domestic demand, the government asked Indonesian coal mining companies to limit the country's total coal output at 397 million metric tons.

    Read more ›

  • Government Tones Down Indonesia's Export Ban Unprocessed Minerals

    Only about one hour before the controversial new Mining Law No.4/2009 would take effect on early Sunday morning (12/01), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a regulation that eases the impact of the new law. The aim of Mining Law No.4/2009 is to ban the export of certain unprocessed minerals (including concentrates) but the new regulation that was signed on Saturday evening (11/01) stipulates that concentrates can still be exported for the next three years, while exports of ore are prohibited since Sunday morning.

    Read more ›

  • Government Decision on Unprocessed Mineral Export Ban Expected Today

    Today (11/01), the government of Indonesia will announce its decision regarding the ban on exports of unrefined mineral ore. This ban, set in the controversial Mining Law No.4/2009, should become effective starting from Sunday 12 January 2014 unless the government will decide to delay full implementation. Industry Minister MS Hidayat stated that the government is still debating about the matter. The new law is controversial because it hollows regulatory certainty, miners's profitability and leads to increased unemployment.

    Read more ›

  • Indonesia Seeking Middle Way in Unprocessed Mineral Export Ban

    Indonesia's controversial Mining Law No.4/2009, which puts a ban on exports of unprocessed minerals from Southeast Asia's largest economy, is not expected to be implemented in full force on 12 January 2014 as the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources now proposes more flexibility for miners. Sukhyar, General Director of Coal and Minerals at the Ministry, said that the proposal would imply a continuation of the export of concentrate or minerals that have been processed to a certain degree until 2017.

    Read more ›

  • Indonesia May Review its Ban on the Export of Unprocessed Minerals

    Indonesia's state news agency Antara reported that the government may review its Mining Law No.4/2009 which stipulates a ban on the export of raw minerals. This controversial new law, through which the government aims to raise more value-added revenues, caused a shockwave across Indonesia's mining sector because a significant amount of mineral exports constitute unprocessed ones. The law, which is set to be implemented on 12 January 2014, implies that minerals need to be processed domestically first before exports are allowed.

    Read more ›

  • Export Ban on Unprocessed Minerals Temporarily Pressures Trade Balance

    Although the ban on the export of unprocessed minerals, which is set to start on 12 January 2014, is expected to result in a direct revenue loss of USD $4 billion in 2014 due to a decline in mineral exports, Deputy Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro believes that from 2016 onward a trade surplus can be recorded in Indonesia's minerals sector. In 2014, Indonesia's minerals sector may show a USD $10 billion trade deficit. But exports of processed minerals may grow from USD $4.9 billion in 2013 to USD $9 billion in 2015.

    Read more ›

Latest Columns Smelters

  • Newmont Nusa Tenggara Resumes Copper Concentrate Exports

    Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), subsidiary of US-based mining company Newmont Mining Corp, has received a permit from the Indonesian government to export 350,000 metric tons of copper concentrate in the next three years. Three weeks ago it became known that both parties agreed on the content of a renegotiation package after an eight-month dispute over Indonesia’s mineral ore export ban, implemented on 12 January 2014 (part of the New Mining Law). In the remainder of 2014, the company is expected to export 160,000 tons.

    Read more ›

  • Nickel Price Influenced by Export Bans of Indonesia and the Philippines

    The global nickel price declined 5.1 percent on Tuesday (09/09) after it became known that the Philippines would not implement a ban on exports of this commodity yet. Similar to Indonesia, the Philippines was preparing to implement a ban on exports of unprocessed minerals in an attempt to boost revenues (by exporting mining products with added value). However, it may take seven years before such a policy is implemented. This implies that the occurrence of a possible shortage of nickel on the global market in the coming years has diminished.

    Read more ›

  • Mining in Indonesia: Newmont Nusa Tenggara Drops Arbitration Case

    Reportedly, Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) will not seek international arbitration at the Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington (USA). Previously, the miner threatened to file for arbitration in an attempt to force the Indonesian government to cancel the recently introduced ban on exports of unprocessed minerals as well as to abort higher export duties. NNT is a subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation that operates the Batu Hijau mine, an open pit copper and gold mine in Sumbawa.

    Read more ›

  • Mining Renegotiations: Freeport Indonesia Builds Copper Smelter

    Subsidiary of US-based natural resources company Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc, Freeport Indonesia, decided to build its copper smelter in Gresik (East Java) as infrastructure around this regency makes it easier to transport its mining products for export purposes. The other location that Freeport was considering was in Papua, near its mining site the Grasberg mine, the world’s largest gold mine and third-largest copper mine. However, infrastructure in Papua (one of the poorest regions in Indonesia) is still underdeveloped.

    Read more ›

  • Freeport Indonesia about Extension Grasberg Contract and New Mining Law

    Freeport Indonesia, subsidiary of US-based natural resources company Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc, is optimistic that the Indonesian government will extend the company’s contract to operate the Grasberg mine in Papua (eastern Indonesia). This mine is the world’s largest gold mine and third-largest copper mine. The current contract between the Indonesian government and Freeport Indonesia expires in 2021. However, Freeport is currently in need of some certainty before investing a large amount on mining operations and smelting facilities.

    Read more ›

  • Export Ban Dispute: Newmont Nusa Tenggara vs Indonesian Government

    The dispute between the Indonesian government and mining giant Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) over the recently implemented ban on the export of unprocessed copper, gold, nickel, bauxite and iron is heading for a climax. In Indonesian media, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quoted saying “NNT has undermined the sense of justice of the Indonesian people” and pronounced his disappointment of NNT’s reluctance to respect the sovereignty of the state. Previously, the government said it may revoke mining permits of NNT.

    Read more ›

  • Update Smelters in Indonesia: Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining

    The Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources announced that 25 miners holding a Mining Business License (Izin Usaha Pertambangan, or IUP) have finished construction of their smelters in the first half of 2014 in line with Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining (also known as the 2009 New Mining Law), which foresees a ban on exports of unprocessed minerals. General Director at the ministry, R. Sukhyar, said that some of these 25 smelters are still in the commissioning stage, while others are already in the production stage.

    Read more ›

  • Export Ban Dispute Newmont Nusa Tenggara vs Indonesian Government

    Whether Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) will file for international arbitration over a six-month old export dispute with the Indonesian government remains unclear. Although many analysts would like to see international arbitration over this case, such a step would imply several risks for the copper miner (which is for 56 percent owned by US-based Newmont Mining Corporation and Japan’s Nusa Tenggara Mining Corporation). The source of the dispute is Indonesia’s recently-introduced ban on exports of ore concentrates.

    Read more ›

  • Depreciating Rupiah Impacts on Indonesian Manufacturing Industry

    Although the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate appreciated 0.86 percent to IDR 11,995 per US dollar on Friday (27/06) as economic data from China, South Korea and Taiwan sparked optimism that regional growth has picked up, the recent depreciating trend of Indonesia’s currency burdens the country’s manufacturing industry. This industry is still dependent on imports of raw materials, capital goods and auxiliary materials, which are paid using US dollars causing the domestic industry to feel the financial impact of a weaker rupiah.

    Read more ›

  • Export Tax Dispute Leads to Force Majeure for Newmont Nusa Tenggara

    Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), one of Indonesia’s largest copper miners, said on Thursday (05/06) that it sees no other option than to declare a force majeure at its Batu Hijau copper mine in Sumbawa (West Nusa Tenggara) due to the export tax dispute with the Indonesian government. President Director of NNT Martiono Hadianto also informed the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources that 80 percent of the company’s workers will be put on leave with reduced salaries.

    Read more ›

No business profiles with this tag