OALspot.

com - Mineral ore exporters of Indonesia ( only IUP holders) are required to obtain recommendation letter from the energy and mineral resources ministry before being able to export metal ore starting from 7th May 2012 until 12 January 2014. By 12 January 2014, all mineral ore and unprocessed coal exports will be stopped. According to a notice published on directorate general of mineral and coals website, the recommendation will only be granted to companies, if the companies fulfill certain requirements, such as IUP status must be clean and clear, the company have paid all their tax and non-tax financial obligations, and they must submit a comprehensive proposal on whether they want to build their own smelters, establish a consortium with other companies to jointly build smelters, or sell their raw materials to smelting companies in the country. Companies must also require to sign integrity pacts with the government undertaking they will stop exporting raw materials in 2014 as mandated by the Minerals and Coal Law. A 20-percent export duty on 14 mineral commodities (antimony, bauxite, chromium, copper, gold, iron ore, iron sand, lead, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, platinum, silver and tin ) will be imposed from 7th May 2012. In the meantime, the energy and mineral resources ministrys director general for minerals and coal, revealed the export tax and the requirements would apply only to IUP holders and not for contract of work (CoW) holders. The government was silent on coal either export duty or export ban. Previously government was planning to introduce a ban on low calorific value coal or unprocessed coal by 2014, and finance ministry of Indonesia is expected to issue a regulation to impose export duty. A official from directorate general of mineral and coal previously revealed that, the export duty will be around 25 percent in 2012 and 50 percent in 2013. However instead of proposed 25 percent export duty on mineral in 2012, now government is introduced only 20 percent duty and coal exempted temporary from any export duty. If export duty on coal introduced and implemented, it will be applicable only for IUP holders and not for CCoW holders. According to market sources, CCoW holders are holding at least 70-80 percent of Indonesian coal production and exports.