Indonesia resumes exporting products that may contain rare earths

According to Reuters, quoted by Miningweekly, the Indonesian Presidential Palace announced on Monday that it had resumed exporting mineral products that may contain rare earths. Previously, the metal industry had complained that the mandatory rare earth testing had hindered the export of goods.

The export of bauxite, alumina, electrolytic copper and nickel derivatives has been delayed due to the uncertainty of the compulsory testing plan of rare earth content and the allowable rare earth content in other export products.

Dudung Abdurachman, director of the Indonesian President's Office, said at a news conference that "the export of rare earth as the main product is prohibited, but this does not mean that the main products and derivatives associated with rare earth should also be prohibited".

Du Dong said that the announcement is a "temporary guide" for exporters, inspectors and customs departments, and the government is formulating relevant regulations to solve the export problem of products containing rare earths.

He revealed that the government held talks with various stakeholders on the 3rd to discuss the concentration limits of each element, laboratory testing methods, testing mechanisms and the specifications for issuing test reports.

Due to the lack of standards, mineral inspectors are afraid to issue export documents for fear of being prosecuted after the authorities recently investigated the transportation of minerals suspected of containing rare earth elements.

Indonesia is a big exporter of minerals, but its rare earth production is still limited, mainly in the form of by-products. Previously, the Indonesian government did not specify the upper limit of rare earth content in other exported minerals.

Du Dong said that the Indonesian national inspection company (PT Sucofindo), which is responsible for implementing the compulsory inspection plan, will soon release 85 inspection reports, which were delayed because of the presence of rare earth elements.

Last week, the Indonesian Nickel Smelters Association (FINI) said that enterprises were waiting for the release of about 120 test reports.

"More than 100 ships were delayed before, but now they can all sail," Du Dong said.

He said that the late submission of test reports mainly came from companies exporting alumina, electrolytic copper and nickel-derived products.

In addition, Du Dong said that as long as mineral products containing radioactive elements are "classified as natural radioactive substances" and meet the safety tests and requirements stipulated by relevant laws and regulations, they can be allowed to be exported.

Indonesia, which is rich in mineral resources, hopes to vigorously develop its rare earth industry. President prabowo subianto has set up a mining agency to supervise related work.

At the beginning of the year, the agency revealed that eight mining areas with rare earth elements prospecting potential have been identified and their processing technology will be studied.

source:https://geoglobal.mnr.gov.cn/zx/kydt/zhyw/202608/t20260805_10287852.htm