Indonesia requires coal exporters to register with trade ministry under new policy
24 Jul 2014
Indonesia's trade ministry has issued a regulation compelling all Indonesia-based exporters of steam and metallurgical coal to register on or before September 1, according to a copy of the regulation obtained by Platts Wednesday.
Under the previous policy, all documents required to export coal came from Indonesia's energy and mineral resources ministry.
Gultom Guska, a deputy coal director for the energy ministry, said Wednesday that his office would coordinate with the trade ministry to implement the new regulation.
"We will give our recommendations" to the trade ministry regarding the qualified exporters, Guska told Platts.
Indonesian coal exports last year totaled 343 million mt, with total production officially announced at 431 million mt. In January-April, Indonesia exported 108 million mt and produced 147 million mt.
Under the new regulation signed July 15 by Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi, an Indonesian coal exporter must secure a permit, or a so-called Eksportir Terdaftar Batubara. The regulation also requires coal surveyors to register their operations with the trade ministry.
A small Indonesian coal producer said legitimate exporters should not have problems complying with the new regulation since they already have the proper documentation.
"I do not see this affecting the market much, if at all," said a trader with a Jakarta-based trading firm that exports coal.
Source: Platts