Indonesia Will Close Quarsa Sand Export Faucet, Here's The Impact!

Sand mine (photo: dock. intermediate)

JAKARTA - Indonesia will stop the export of quartz sand. This is considered to have an impact on Indonesia's trade.

According to the Advisory Boarding of the Indonesian Quarter Mining Association (Hipki) Rezki Syahrir, if the government closes the export tap without providing a solid domestic market, the quartz sand export market system will return to the way it was in 2020. Where Cambodia will gain the durian collapse because it will shift Indonesia's position as one of the quartz sand exporting countries to Malaysia.

"And now those who enter the global market are Malaysia and I think Australia is back in its market which has been displaced by us," he said in the Mining Zone quoted Wednesday, August 9.

Rezki added that so far Indonesia has shifted the position of several countries as quartz sand exporters to China, such as Cambodia, Australia, and Pakistan.

"We are shifting several countries such as Cambodia and Pakistan, especially for the Chinese market because we have a comprehensive close advantage logistics to China," he said.

He added, since Indonesia opened the export tap, the proportion of exports of Indonesian quartz sand exports exported so far is only 20 percent, while 80 percent is still consumed domestically.

Regarding the downstreaming of quartz sand, he said, adequate infrastructure is needed and needs to be prepared properly and gradually considering that Indonesia has a close relationship with the quartz sand export market, namely China.

"When we close the market, we should be able to become stronger. But what we need to understand is that this market is relatively stable. When we close it without providing a solid domestic market, I think the market system will return to 2020," concluded Rezki.

Previously, the Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia opened the option of Indonesia to stop the tap for exporting quartz sand abroad in order to increase the added value of quartz sand which is the main raw material for building solar glasses and panels.

"We want this quartz sand to be also managed, and we don't rule out the possibility that in the future we will also consider, yes, we prohibit exports as well. It's up to people to protest us, so just protest. Cook our country can't progress," said Bahlil.