Indonesia Liberalizes Exports of Mineral Products Containing Rare Earth Elements
The Indonesian Presidential Office has announced the lifting of export restrictions on mineral products containing rare earth elements; this decision, which includes products such as bauxite, alumina, copper cathodes, and nickel derivatives, will lead to the movement of over 100 stranded vessels at ports.
The Indonesian Presidential Office announced: Exports of mineral products that may also contain rare earth elements have been resumed.
The office emphasized: The export ban on rare earth elements only applies to cases where these elements are exported as the main product, and does not include associated rare earth elements present in products such as bauxite, alumina, copper cathodes, and nickel derivatives.
“Dudung Abdulrahman,” Head of the Indonesian Presidential Office, said: This policy has been formulated as a temporary guideline for exporters, inspection agencies, and customs, and will reduce export delays caused by the requirement to test for the presence of rare earth elements.
PT Sucofindo, the company responsible for conducting these tests, will gradually issue 85 outstanding inspection reports related to exports of alumina, copper cathodes, and nickel derivatives.
It is expected that with the publication of these reports, exports will resume and more than 100 vessels that have so far been stranded due to this delay will begin loading and movement.
The Indonesian government announced that it will also formulate and communicate the permissible limits of associated rare earth elements in minerals, diagnostic standards, and relevant inspection procedures.