Cak Imin Says Downstream Is Done Recklessly, Bahlil: They Don't Understand

Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Investment Minister/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia opened his voice regarding allegations that the downstream policy was carried out recklessly.

Bahlil admitted that he was confused by the assessment.

Previously, in the fourth debate of the 2024 presidential election, the Vice Presidential Candidate (Cawapres) number 01, Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin said that the downstreaming carried out by the government was reckless. One of the reasons is because it damages the environment.

Bahlil said the assessment that was made illustrates that Cak Imin does not understand downstreaming in the mining sector.

"I am confused. That's the result because they don't understand," he said when met at the Office of the Ministry of Investment, Jakarta, Wednesday, January 24.

Bahlil said that downstream mining industry before running must comply with the norms in the rules of the Law (UU). For example, completing Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) to other licensing.

What is called holiration, the mining industry must fulfill the norms in the rules. For example, AMDAL must be resolved, the permit must be finalized, he must complete it. So if it meets the standard, which one is reckless?," he said.

The former Chairperson of Hipmi explained that downstreaming was carried out massively to accelerate the impact on the trade netwca surplus.

"Indeed, we do it massively to encourage acceleration. How is it possible that our trade balance will be a surplus of 36 (months) in a row, if the products we produce do not become high quality products," he said.

Even so, Bahlil admitted that there were still negligence in terms of health and work safety (K3) in a number of smelters in the country.

Therefore, Bahlil megaku will be more selective and tighten companies that will carry out downstreaming.

"I have to admit that behind it all there is a part that we have to fix in the future, the K3. So in the future we will give permission to companies that have our hydration, including K3. We don't want any casualties, we don't want environmental pollution. The standard norms that must be fulfilled, we have to run them, "he said.