Indonesian miners given a reprieve
In what must come as good news for smaller dry bulk shippers in the Pacific trades, Indonesia said it will allow some exports of raw mineral ore even after the ban is scheduled to kick in from 2014 to give miners more time to build their smelters, Seatrade Asia online reports.
Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Rudi Rubiandini was quoted as saying: “It won’t be fully enforced in 2014 as it won’t be fair to the companies." As many as 30 smelters may be built to process nickel, bauxite and iron ore, out of 185 proposals received by the ministry, he said.
To cut costs, the smelters will be clustered in four regions near LNG sources such as in Halmahera Island, Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, South Sulawesi and East Java. Gas is expected to come from Tangguh LNG plant for the smelters in Halmahera, from Sengkang for Sulawesi and Bontang for the plants in Balikpapan.