In an interview with Bloomberg News, PT Timah President Director Sukrisno said that the state-controlled company can meet new quality regulations for refined tin exports due to come into force on 1 July and wants the authorities enforce them strictly. The company expects to produce 30,000 tonnes of tin this year, similar to last year’s level of 29,512 tonnes.
“The purpose of the new regulation is to increase control over shipments from Indonesia,” said Sukrisno. “I heard that some people in China and Malaysia say they’re doubtful we can fully implement the rules. My response is that it’s a big challenge for our country and the key will be good monitoring.” The company has met surveyors working for the trade ministry in a bid to ensure the purity law is properly applied from the start of July, said Sukrisno.
In a separate interview Hidayat Arsani, president of the Indonesian Tin Mining Association said that only a minority of independent smelters are able to comply with limits on impurities (such as lead and cadmium) and companies are in a “wait and see” mode, expecting the government to delay or ease the rule.
The government will enforce the new regulations as planned on July 1, said Bachrul Chairi, director general of foreign trade at the Trade Ministry. The move will increase the value of exports, he said.
