KSP: Government Refines Regulations on Rare Earth Metals and Radioactive Elements
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) stated that the government is currently refining regulations governing the management and trade of rare earth metal (LTJ) content in mineral commodities to be exported.
“We would like to convey the progress of the coordination results, where an understanding has been established that the export ban on LTJ applies to LTJ as the main product. So, if the export of LTJ as a product is prohibited, it does not necessarily apply to LTJ content found as associated elements in primary mining products and their derivatives,” said Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman during a press conference at the Bina Graha Building, Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday.
This understanding was successfully reached after the KSP led a coordination meeting with relevant ministries and agencies regarding the issue of LTJ in mineral content and its implications for mineral export governance on Monday (27/7).
With this coordination and understanding, Dudung stated that it can serve as a guideline for exporters, surveyors, and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance during the transition period.
Furthermore, the government has also prepared a legal opinion from the Attorney General’s Office to strengthen legal certainty while the refinement of regulations regarding LTJ content is underway.
“Relevant ministries and agencies will also accelerate the refinement of rules regarding LTJ and radioactive elements. Today, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs will hold a Coordination Meeting to discuss recommendations on LTJ content limits in products that can be exported,” said Dudung.
The upcoming discussions will specifically address the definition of associated minerals, content limits for each element, laboratory testing methods, verification mechanisms, arrangements for Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) for natural radioactive elements, and guidelines for issuing surveyor reports.
He confirmed that exports of several mineral commodities, which were previously delayed due to doubts over the implementation of Minister of Trade Regulation No. 6 of 2026 concerning the Fourth Amendment to Minister of Trade Regulation No. 22 of 2023 on Goods Prohibited for Export, have now resumed.
The regulation itself prohibits the export of 17 types of LTJ and their compounds with a purity level below 99 percent.
The results of the KSP’s coordination with several ministries and agencies have also given the green light for PT Sucofindo to issue 85 surveyor reports that were previously delayed due to indications of associated minerals in the commodities to be exported.