KKP Regarding Sea Sand Export Permit Opened: We Don't Know

Sea sand export (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has finally opened the tap for sea sand export following the issuance of two new Minister of Trade Regulations (Permendag) related to exports. This is a follow-up to the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) on Government Regulation (PP) Number 26 of 2023 concerning Management of sedimentation Results in the Sea and proposals from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).

The two rules are Permendag No. 20/2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Permendag No. 22/2023 concerning Goods Prohibited from Exporting and Permendag No. 21/2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Permendag No. 23/2023 on Export Policy and Regulation.

The two regulations were promulgated in Jakarta on August 29, 2024 and will take effect after 30 working days starting from the date of promulgation.

Even so, the government has not been able to confirm when the regulation will be effective. Related to this, the Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) Pung Nugroho Saksono has also not been able to confirm whether the regulation will take effect in the era of President Joko Widodo or President-elect Prabowo Subianto.

"Wow, we don't know. I don't know. Anyway, in principle, we will definitely go to the field when we start, start. As long as it's still a discourse, yes, we're waiting for the discourse too. But in the field we are ready. What are we ready for? Don't let this discourse just start, people have started first," said the man who was familiarly called Ipunk when met at the KKP office, Monday, September 23.

Unfortunately, Ipunk also admitted that there was no information or direction from the leadership, in this case the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Wahyu Sakti Trenggono.

"Not yet, if there is, it will definitely be announced. This, right, is not a small job. If small work can still be done secretly, this is a big job," he said.

He claimed that until now no company has officially dredged Indonesia's marine sand products. This means that the regulation does not apply.

"Until now there has not been a single operation, so the operation has not been carried out. However, we are on standby ready if implemented. Everything must be directed according to the applicable regulations if it will not be dealt with," he said.

When asked further about the economic value that Indonesia may get from the export, Ipunk has not been able to explain in detail, including regarding his research.

"Our position is supervisory. We are not talking about value research. If it starts, start, we will definitely go to the field to monitor it," he added.

Previously, the Secretary of the Directorate General of Marine Management and Space of the KKP Kusdiantoro claimed that there were 66 companies that had applied for the management of sea sand mines as a result of sedimentation to date.

"There are 66 companies that have registered, we are currently examining all aspects and we are seeing them. However, we have not talked about exports," Kusdiantoro told reporters, quoted Wednesday, July 31.

Kusdiantoro said that the issuance of mining management permits was not only given. According to him, there are many things that need to be studied until the government can issue permits related to the use of sea sand.

"So, we don't have one yet and have never issued a permit regarding the use of this sedimentation," he said.