Government Holds Talks with Chinese Mining Firms on Business Obstacles

The government met Chinese mining entrepreneurs at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to discuss obstacles in their operations in Indonesia.

‘Today I, Mr. Rosan Roeslani, Minister of Investment and Hilirisasi, and Mr. Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Minister of Finance, and the Ambassador invited Chinese investors who are already operating here, we held a coordination meeting to discuss the obstacles they face,’ said Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia at the ESDM office in Jakarta on Tuesday.

In addition to Bahlil, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa and Minister of Investment and Hilirisasi Rosan Roeslani attended as representatives of the Indonesian government in a special forum with Chinese mining entrepreneurs.

Bahlil stated that the government wants Chinese mining companies to be able to continue operating. However, the government also wants the country to derive income from mining operations.

Bahlil revealed that there were around 30 companies and investors active in the mineral and coal mining sector at the coordination meeting. ‘Earlier, there were nearly 30 companies we spoke with; the sector is mining, most of them are in mining,’ said Bahlil.

Regarding the meeting, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa briefly referred to a letter from the China Chamber of Commerce. The letter encapsulated concerns by Chinese businesspeople about issues such as tax and royalty increases, law enforcement, tightening work visa rules, foreign exchange controls on export earnings, and other matters.

‘This was just now with Chinese businessmen; we identified the problems they face, there are complaints; we listened. If we can solve them, we will,’ said Purbaya.

On 15 April 2026, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources implemented a new formula for determining the reference price for minerals (HPM) to present a regulation that is adaptive, fair and transparent, as stated by the Director General of Minerals and Coal at the Ministry Tri Winarno.

The change is contained in Ministerial Decree ESDM No. 144 of 2026 concerning amendments to Kepmen ESDM No. 268.K/MB.01/MEM.B/2025 regarding the Guidelines for Setting the Reference Price for the Sale of Metallic Minerals and Coal.

Meanwhile, regarding royalties for mining commodities, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said royalties for copper, tin, nickel, gold, and silver would be postponed in order to build a better formulation.