Jakarta –
Various countries have protested against Indonesia for banning coal exports. Countries that raised their objections ranged from Japan, South Korea, to the Philippines.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has banned coal exports since January 1, 2022 because PT PLN (Persero) is experiencing a coal crisis, which has the potential to cause power outages.
Adapting to SCMP, Monday (10/1/2022), concerns over supply disruptions in Japan prompted Japan to call for the ban on coal exports to be lifted. Japan imports about 2 million tonnes of coal from Indonesia per month for power generation and manufacturing.
A letter from the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif stated that at least five ships loaded with coal bound for Japan were waiting to depart from Indonesian waters, but this could not be done because export permits had not been granted.
South Korea also expressed concern over the ban on Indonesia’s coal exports as of January 1 and urged that coal shipments be restarted immediately. This is adapted from the Korea Times.
Ginseng State Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held an emergency meeting on the issue with Indonesian Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi via video link.
“Trade Minister Yeo expressed the government’s concern over the ban on Indonesia’s coal exports and strongly requests the cooperation of the Indonesian government so that coal shipments will immediately resume,” the ministry said in a press release.
Lutfi said that Indonesia is very aware of South Korea’s concerns and will make efforts for a smooth settlement.
The two ministers agreed on the importance of cooperation in the global supply network and stressed the need for bilateral efforts for a stable commodity supply chain, the ministry said.
The Philippines followed a protest against Indonesia. Philippine Energy Minister Alfonso Cusi called on Indonesia to lift the ban on coal exports.
Adapting Reuters, Manila’s Energy Department said the Indonesian government’s policies would hurt an economy that relies heavily on fuel for power generation.
Cusi conveyed the protest in a letter sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasrif. It did not say when the letter was sent.
Cusi has asked the foreign ministry to mediate and appeal on behalf of the Philippines through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) cooperation mechanism.
(toy/dna)
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