With China’s economic growth slowing to 7.3 percent year-on-year (y/y) in the third quarter of 2014, Indonesian exports will be affected as China is one of Indonesia’s most important trading partners. Prior to the release of China’s Q3-2014 GDP growth result, the outgoing government of Indonesia had already trimmed its export target for 2014 as global commodity prices have still not picked up. In fact prices of palm oil, coal, rubber, copper and iron ore have fallen in the first three quarters of 2014 according to Indonesian government data.

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The Chief Executive at Newmont Nusa Tenggara, Martiono Hadianto, said that on Wednesday evening (03/09) a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the USA- based mining giant and the Indonesian government after an 8-month dispute over the country’s ban on exports of mineral ore (implemented on 12 January 2014). The mining company can now resume copper concentrate exports next week. Earlier this week it had been announced that both sides would come to an agreement.

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The Indonesian government and Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) have reportedly agreed on the content of a renegotiation package after an 8-month dispute over the mineral ore export ban. NNT, subsidiary of the USA-based Newmont Mining Corporation, will be allowed to resume copper concentrate exports up to 200,000 tons (with a value of about USD $400 million) until the end of 2014. Last week, NNT already announced it would not seek international arbitration over this matter.

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Contrary to Newmont Nusa Tenggara (which has been in a heated dispute with the Indonesian government), Freeport Indonesia obtained a permit to resume copper concentrate exports from Indonesia after these had ceased since January 2014 when the government implemented the ban on exports of unprocessed minerals. Freeport Indonesia Chief Executive Rozik Sutjipto announced that the memorandum of understanding between both sides has been signed. The miner is the Indonesian unit of US based Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold.

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On 06 July 2014, Indonesia Investments released the latest edition of its newsletter. This free newsletter, which is sent to our subscribers once per week, contains the most important news stories from Indonesia that have been reported on our website in the last seven days. Most of the topics involve political and economic topics such as the presidential election, a rupiah and stock market update, an analysis of inflation and the trade balance, corruption, poverty, GDP growth, prospects of the copper price, and more.

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Indonesia's Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik opened the possibility for Newmont Nusa Tenggara, subsidiary of US-based gold miner Newmont Mining Corporation, to resume exports of ore concentrates, provided that Newmont shows its commitment to build a smelter in Indonesia as in accordance with the new and controversial 2009 Mining Law. One of the targets of this new law is to boost Indonesia’s downstream mining industry by prohibiting export of unprocessed minerals.

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R. Sukhyar, Director General for Coal and Mineral Resources at the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said that Freeport Indonesia and Newmont Nusa Tenggara, two of the largest copper miners in Indonesia, have shown their commitment to build refining facilities (in line with the 2009 Mining Law) by agreeing to transfer a total of USD $140 million to the government as a deposit guarantee. Freeport will transfer USD $115 million, whereas Newmont will transfer the remaining USD $25 million.

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The owners of Tujuh Bukit, a gold and copper project located near Banyuwangi (East Java), are planning to conduct an initial public offering on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the third quarter of 2014. The project zone is estimated to contain at least 1.6 million ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver. If construction of the mine can be realized this year, then gold production can start in 2016. Construction of the copper mine is expected to start in 2019. Through the IPO, USD $75 million is targeted to be raised (used for concession development).

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PT Indosmelt, an Indonesian smelting company, is planning to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) somewhere in 2015. Through this corporate action the company aims to raise USD $450 to $500 million in new funds by selling 49 percent of its enlarged capital to the public. President Director of Indosmelt Natsyir Mansyur said that the company is currently in talks with Kresna Graha Sekurindo to act as lead underwriter. The funds will be used to build a gold refinery.

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Last Friday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its January 2014 Commodity Market Monthly. This report provides an update on global commodity prices. According to the report, global commodity prices rose 2.4 percent in December 2013, with increases in most main indices. During 2013, commodity prices increased 0.8 percent, with gains concentrated in the energy sector, up 3 percent from December 2012. Metals prices declined 7 percent due to continued increases in new capacity.

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Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik regrets to see Newmont Nusa Tenggara, one of Indonesia largest copper miners, file for international arbitration due to Indonesia’s export ban stipulated by Law 4/2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining (Minerba). This new law includes the ban on exports of ore concentrates from Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Instead, Indonesian miners are required to process the minerals domestically first. The ban was implemented on 12 January 2014.

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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.

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Freeport Indonesia stated that the company's production of copper concentrate plunged since the Indonesian government implemented the ban on exports of unprocessed minerals on 12 January 2014. Currently, Freeport only produces to supply Smelting Gresik, Indonesia's first copper smelter and refinery. As such, Freeport only operates at 45 percent of production capacity regarding copper concentrate. According to Freeport Indonesia's spokeswoman Daisy Primayanti, production of copper concentrate fell to 3,150 tons per day.

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