Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and the European Union (EU) are conducting negotiations to explore energy trade cooperation, especially related to Energy and Raw Material (ERM) for easy investment.

Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry`s Special Staff for Strategic Planning Yudo Dwinanda Priaadi remarked in Brussels that the EU, in general, is looking to secure access to energy and minerals from Indonesia, including how to treat the application of mineral exit duty.

According to information from the ESDM Ministry received by Antara here on Monday, Priaadi revealed that negotiations were still ongoing following the stance taken by Indonesia to prioritize state sovereignty in the management of energy and mineral resources.

"With respect to raw materials, our spirit to increase the added value is mandated by the law, but related to export duty minerals, the scope of the discussion transcends ministries, such as the ESDM Ministry, Trade Ministry, Industry Ministry, and Finance Ministry," he noted.

Related to the implementation of energy business activities, he stated that various requests were submitted by the EU, as it was initially believed that the process of doing business in Indonesia lacks certainty, including energy exploitation in the forestry region.

The EU also put forth a request that oil and gas blocks not sold at auctions be awarded directly to them. However, it cannot be done, as the existing rule aims to encourage companies to be competitive in doing business.
reportng by Afut Syafril
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/O001) 16-07-2018 13:03:15

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Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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