Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Susilo Siswoutomo said here on Friday his office will discuss the regulation with the Parliament.
"(We will discuss) a legal umbrella for export recommendations which does not go against the law," he said.
From 2014, the government will consider granting export permits to mining companies that are committed to building smelting plants, he stated.
The permits will be issued for a certain period of time, until the smelters become operational.
"It takes about three years to build a smelter," he explained.
The government will not grant export permits from 2014 to companies that are not serious about building smelters, he added.
Susilo said the government will implement Law Number 4 of 2009 on minerals and coal mining, which requires companies to begin processing minerals within the country, uniformly in the country by 2014 at the latest.
Companies may build the smelters by themselves or in collaboration with other companies.
The government has also issued Presidential Instruction Number 3 of 2013, which pertains to expediting efforts to increase the value of minerals through domestic processing and smelting operations, Susilo stated.
At present, about 100 out of 300 smelters are being seriously developed.
The government will verify companies` commitment in developing the plants through direct inspections.
Companies which build smelters will also be required to park some funds in banks to guarantee their commitment. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
