Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia's coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, said the government plans to introduce regulations to levy an export tax on nickel content in processed steel.
In the wake of the recent Revelations by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) about the alleged illegal export of nickel ore, Ruhut felt it was necessary for the government to enact the regulation.
Speaking to reporters after the opening of the Marine Spatial Planning and Services Expo 2023 in Jakarta, Ruhut said: "This is not smuggling. However, the nickel content in processed steel is 0.5, but China does not stipulate that it can be taxed. So the government has to make regulations."
Ruhut acknowledged that the Ministry of Maritime and Investment Coordination is continuing to coordinate with the KPK to investigate the alleged illegal export of nickel ore to China during the 2021-2022 period.
Earlier, the KPK revealed the findings of an investigation into the alleged illegal export of 5.2 million tonnes of nickel ore to China. Information about suspected illegal exports can be found on the Chinese Customs website.
According to the data, there is a discrepancy between the nickel ore export data of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) and the data of the Chinese Customs on the import of Indonesian nickel ore.
