Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia has allowed mineral exports to resume following delays related to rare-earth elements (REE) content, Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Chief Dudung Abdurrachman confirmed.
At a press conference in Jakarta on Monday, he said exports had resumed “in parallel with an ongoing revision to the ministerial regulation” governing export requirements and standards.
He noted that the KSP is spearheading deliberations among institutions across sectors to set clear limits on the maximum REE content permitted in export commodities.
Dudung added that he had coordinated with the Customs Directorate General and the Attorney General’s Office to address export-bound minerals stuck at ports following REE testing.
The bottlenecks emerged after the government enforced a ban on exports of 18 REEs and their compounds with purity levels below 99 percent under a regulation issued by the Trade Ministry in 2026.
Following discussions, he said, the government decided to allow exports to resume while revising the regulation to avoid economic disruption caused by hundreds of ships being unable to depart.
The KSP chief then pointed to a coordination meeting on July 31, which authorized state-run survey company PT Sucofindo to issue 85 surveyors’ reports previously delayed due to indications of REE-related issues.
“Most of the delayed surveyors’ reports are linked to companies exporting alumina, copper, cathodes, and nickel derivatives,” Dudung said.
Regarding mining products with radioactive properties, he emphasized that they can be cleared for exports provided they contain only naturally occurring radioactive materials, pass the required tests, and comply with safety and monitoring standards.
He made the statement after several mineral exporters reported shipment bottlenecks over REE content.
The Indonesian Nickel Industry Forum noted that at least 120 ships had been unable to set sail as of July 20 following REE testing.
In response, the KSP convened a coordination meeting with relevant ministries and agencies on July 27.
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Translator: P.T Violletta, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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