JAKARTA - The Japanese government through the Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Kanasugi Kenji wrote to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif. The contents of the letter protested the ban on coal exports that Indonesia had imposed until the end of January.
In the letter, Kenji asked the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to lift the ban on coal exports. This is because the ban is considered to have a serious impact on the economic activities and daily life of Japanese people.
The ban on coal exports is stated in the letter from the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources B-1605/MB.05/DJB.B/2021 which was issued on December 31, 2021, officially prohibiting coal mining companies from exporting coal abroad.
Furthermore, Kenji said several Japanese power plants and manufacturers rely on coal supplies from Indonesia. Moreover, Japan is currently entering the winter season where the demand for coal is increasing.
Kenji said because of the letter, export permits for coal exports to Japan have not been granted, and ships that have completed cargo handling cannot leave ports since January 1.
"Japan's industry regularly imports coal from Indonesia for power generation and manufacturing (about 2 million tonnes per month), and the sudden export ban had a serious impact on Japan's economic activities as well as people's daily lives," Kenji wrote in his letter, quoted Thursday, January 6th.
As an alternative, Kenji suggested that Indonesia keep the tap of exporting high-calorie coal or High Calorific Value (HCV) open to Japan.
"Japan mostly imports High Calorific Value or HCV coal, which is different from LCV (Low Calorific Value) coal, which is purchased exclusively by PLN Indonesia. This means that HCV exports to Japan do not have a significant impact on coal supply for PLN. Therefore, I would like to request the immediate lifting of the ban on coal exports to Japan," he wrote. On the second point, Kenji also explained that according to a major Japanese shipping company, there are at least five ships loading coal to Japan currently waiting for departure. Therefore, he asked for a departure permit to be issued immediately.
"I also want to specifically request that the departure permit for ships ready to depart immediately be issued," he added.
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