Bahlil Confirms RI Still Imports Nickel From Neighboring Countries: Filling In The Stock Of Raw Materials Is Not Haram

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: Doc. VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said Indonesia is still importing nickel ore from neighboring countries.

The reason, Bahlil explained, is that Indonesia has a nickel requirement of 157 million tons and imports are only limited to bringing in a low-grade limousine or nickel of 2 ships.

"Only two ships and even that. Imports are actually not haram," Bahlil told the media crew when met at Balai Kartini, Monday, November 25.

Bahlil said, as a nickel industry country, importing raw materials such as nickel is not something that is prohibited.

The reason is, the imported nickel will be used as a mix of smelters to produce ferronicles or nickel facilitation.

"Imports are actually not haram, to meet the stock of his raw materials, it's okay," continued Bahlil.

The former Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board said that the practice of importing nickel was legitimate, as long as it did not increase the RKAB or the Work Plan and Budget for excessive costs.

If this is done, this could lead to a decrease in nickel prices because it exceeds market demand capacity. As a result, this could harm local miners and smelters owners.

"Imagine if I increase the RKAB beyond the demand capacity limit, the price falls. The only interests of the company are only one or two then damage the order of our brothers and sisters who own the mine," explained Bahlil.

Meanwhile, regarding data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) which stated that Indonesia imported nickel ore, Bahlil said, this is legal as long as it has not exceeded 10 percent of national production.

"It's okay. It's not up to 10 percent. It's not banned. I'm afraid of prohibited goods," said Bahlil.