Tom Lembong Challenges Minister Bahlil Lahadalia on Nickel Downstreaming Policy

Jakarta –

Co-Captain of the National Winning Team (Timnas) Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar (AMIN), Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong emphasized that his party was ready to compete on data regarding nickel downstreaming with the Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia. Tom admitted that he was open to competing data and ideas with Bahlil Lahadalia or any other party.

“Once again we are always open to competing over data, competing over ideas, competing over facts, yes, and we really respect debate opponents, discussion opponents and I think there is still a lot of room for enrichment to open up again, lots of interesting facts, interesting data in “Our side is getting more enthusiastic, we are getting more excited about the various facts and data that are being revealed and we hope it will be useful for the community,” said Tom Lembong at the Millennium Hotel Jakarta, Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, Friday (2/2/2024).

He said the ongoing nickel downstreaming was full of problems. According to him, downstreaming has minimal economic benefits for society.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that the nickel industry, from mining to processing, which is called downstreaming, is full of problems, of course there are economic benefits, but the figures so far are that the benefits for the total economy are minimal,” said Tom Lembong.

“While the negative opinion on the environment is very significant, the consequences on the negative side of workers are also significant, both in terms of working conditions, the number of accidents that take lives, while from an economic perspective, in addition to contributing to the totality of our gross domestic product, it is also too greedy in the short term, he added.

He highlighted the 2020 Minerba Law. He said that total downstreaming by stopping exports of raw materials within 3 years could not possibly be successful.

“Earlier we found that the implementation of this law was inconsistent with the law itself, as explained by our source earlier, the Minerba Law was issued in 2020 and according to that law, downstreaming should have been completely completed by 2023, so it has stopped completely. export of raw materials in all natural resource programs,” he said.

“But in fact, that’s not the case. How could this happen, it could be achieved in just three years, but in the end, we are not consistent in our own laws, that’s the problem that occurs,” he added.

Furthermore, Tom said that Indonesia’s nickel reserves will run out within the next 15-20 years. He said this would happen if downstream nickel continued to be carried out recklessly.

“This is the consequence of implementing a policy that is too reckless in the short term, thereby sacrificing long-term aspects such as the environment, social justice, workers’ conditions and also economic interests,” he said.

Previously, Bahlil Lahadalia was angry with many who criticized downstream policies, one of which was for nickel. He emphasized that currently nickel is a large raw material and is most sought after by developed countries.

He also questioned why many parties criticized nickel downstreaming. In fact, according to him, nickel is a domestic natural resource that has great potential for the development of the electric vehicle industry, especially for electric car batteries.

“So now, are we focusing on developing natural resources or promoting other countries? Is this a funny country, or what’s going on?” he explained in a press conference at the Ministry of Investment/BKPM Office, South Jakarta, Wednesday (24/1).

Bahlil suspects that this information was used to lobby the next government so that Indonesia no longer prohibits the export of raw goods. He also touched on the IMF report which had recommended that Indonesia consider banning exports of raw goods.

“Be careful! I’m linking this. Don’t let foreign agents enter this nation to destroy the order in public policy. This is dangerous,” he said.

(whn/jbr)

2024-02-02 18:18:48


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