Minister Bahlil Responds to Chinese Nickel Smelter Investors' Complaints on Mining Plans

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia has confirmed that the government has followed up on various complaints from Chinese nickel smelter investors regarding mining sector policies, including issues surrounding the Work Plan and Budget (RKAB).

This was conveyed by Bahlil in response to reports of a letter from the Chinese Embassy to the Ministry of ESDM highlighting several government policies deemed potentially disruptive to the sustainability of nickel smelter investment in Indonesia.

According to Bahlil, communication between the Indonesian government and representatives of the Chinese government and business community is ongoing. In fact, a few weeks before he departed for the Hajj pilgrimage, he received a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs investing in Indonesia.

“I have said that I have frequently met with the Chinese Embassy. In fact, three to four weeks ago before I went for Hajj, I met a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs in Indonesia. We were discussing and we have been looking for several solutions to their complaints,” Bahlil said at the Parliament Complex on Monday (15/6/2026).

Bahlil acknowledged that one of the main issues highlighted by foreign investors is related to the RKAB. However, Bahlil stressed that the production capacity granted by the government to companies has essentially not changed.

He said companies requiring additional raw material supplies can establish collaborations with other companies that have larger RKAB allocations. “Actually, regarding the RKAB, what is the issue? Their production capacity remains the same, as given by us. They just need to carry out some collaboration, cooperating with companies in the regions that have obtained larger RKAB,” he said.