Not Necessarily Export Duty: ESDM Examines Sources of Coal-Nickel Revenue
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is currently examining various alternative schemes to increase state revenues from the mining sector, such as coal and nickel.
The government has emphasised that the additional levies are not necessarily to be implemented in the form of export duties (BK) as previously planned.
Director General of Mineral and Coal (Dirjen Minerba) at the Ministry of ESDM, Tri Winarno, explained that his team is still conducting simulations (exercises) of calculations related to the potential new sources of state revenue. He confirmed that the instruments for collecting such revenues could use mechanisms other than export duties.
“We are exercising other calculations to get the money. (So not necessarily BK) Yes, yes,” Tri stated when met at the Ministry of ESDM office in Jakarta on Monday (6/4/2026).
Tri emphasised that the plan to impose export duties on coal and nickel has not yet been implemented. The government is still formulating policies to ensure the chosen levy scheme is targeted and effective in patching state revenue needs without disrupting the investment climate.
“This is not BK; we are saying that we will formulate the appropriate patch (for state revenue) later,” he stressed.
Regarding the estimated tariff amount or percentage of the levy to be imposed, Tri said there is no definite figure yet. He noted that technical discussions on the levy formulation are still ongoing internally within the government in line with the directives of the Minister of ESDM.
“Not yet, not yet. We are exercising as mentioned earlier; the Minister said to look for patches, more or less like that. Later, this has not been discussed,” he asserted.
Previously, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that the government is studying plans to impose export duties on coal up to processed nickel products, particularly nickel pig iron (NPI).
According to Bahlil, this is being done as an effort by the government to increase state revenues amid the current global uncertainties.
“Because in a situation like this for the country, we must seek many alternative sources of income. One of them is because we are pushing for the imposition of export taxes on downstream products,” Bahlil said when met at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, quoted on Monday (30/3/2026).
He explained that his team is still conducting calculations and studies related to the appropriate formulation for imposing export duties on NPI products, including the scheme and tariff rates.
“NPI products from nickel, we are calculating. We are calculating this. Once again, I am calculating the formulation for imposing taxes on NPI,” Bahlil stated.