Ministry Of Energy And Mineral Resources Conducts Three Nickel Mining Blocks Priority Auction In South Sulawesi

Illustration (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) through the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal (Minerba) will conduct a priority auction of three Blocks of the Special Mining Business Permit (WIUPK) for metal minerals.

The three blocks are Blok Bulubalang, Lingke Utara, and Pongkerek, East Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi Province (Sulsel).

Head of the Communication, Public Information and Cooperation Service (KLIK) Bureau of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Agus Cahyono Adi said the auction was held in a closed manner or closed bidding on the WIUP/WIUPK application.

"The auction is carried out with a written offer without the presence of participants, carried out online on the WIUP/WIUPK auction application behind closed doors," he said, Thursday, April 18.

Agus said the priority auction was held because the offer against Blok Bulubalang, North Lingke, and Pongkerek was declared not fulfilled.

The three blocks have previously been offered priority to State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and Regional Owned Enterprises (BUMD).

"Furthermore, the three WIUPK Blocks will be carried out priority to BUMN or BUMD, which previously expressed interest in managing them," he added.

The details of the three WIUPK blocks that will be held in the priority auction are as follows:

1. Bulubalang Block located in East Luwu, South Sulawesi has an area of 1,665 Ha with a commodity type in the form of Nickel. This block has Information Data Compensation of IDR 5,972,500,000. North Lingke Block located in East Luwu, South Sulawesi Province with an area of 943 Ha with a Nickel commodity and has Information Data Compensation of IDR 3,378,300,000. BlockPongkerek located in East Luwu, South Sulawesi Province. This block has an area of 4,252 Ha with a commodity type of Nickel and has Information Data Compensation of IDR 14,409,850,000

Registration and submission of auction requirements documents will begin on May 17 to May 22, 2024

Tata cara dan persyaratan lelang WIUP mineral dan Batu Bara dapat mengacu pada Keputusan Menteri Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral Nomor 258.K/MB.01/MEM.B/2023. Pelaksanaan lelang dilaksanakan melalui aplikasi Lelang WIUP/WIUPK mineral dan Batu Bara yang dapat diakses melalui situs: https://minerba.esdm.go.id/lelang.

For information, previously PT Sulsel Citra Indonesia (PT SCI) together with PT Aneka Tambang, Tbk has expressed interest in managing the three blocks.

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources has ordered coordination of the provision of WIUPK between SOEs and BUMDs through letter No. T-703 /MB.04 / MEMM.B / 2023 dated September 4, 2023 regarding Coordination of the Provision of Mining Business Permit Areas (WIUPK) Blok Bulubalang, WIUPK Blok Lingke Utara, and WIUPK Blok Pongkerbu, with a coordination period of 60 (six ten days) calendar days.

Both proposed the formation of a joint venture, but failed to form. The application for an extension of the time for the formation of a joint venture proposed by the two business entities is unacceptable.

Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions in the Regulation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 16 of 2021 and the Decree of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 258.K/MB.01/MEM.B/2023, the formation of joint ventures in the context of giving WIUPK in priority has been regulated for 90 (nine) calendar days and is not regulated regarding the extension of the period of time.