Two more tin smelters in Bangka Belitung province have won regional government approval to re-open, following an initial five at the end of last week, according to Metal Bulletin. However they still require an official go ahead from the Trade Ministry in Jakarta before they can re-start operations.
The latest names to be added to the list are CV Donna Kembara Jaya (DKJ), one of the largest of the independent plants shut down last October, and PT Tinindo Internusa.
The first five smelters — CV DS Jaya Abadi, PT Bangka Putra Karya (BPK), PT Bukit Timah, CV Duta Putra Bangka and PT Bellitin Makmur Lestari (BML) — were reported to have been given operating permits by the local department of mines last Friday.
Jaya, BPK, Bukit Timah and DPK exported 8,370 tonnes, 7,800 tonnes, 2,250 tonnes and 1,834 tonnes of tin respectively in the first nine months of last year, according to data from the Indonesian Tin Industry Association, while PT Tinindo Internusa produced 1,085 tonnes in the same period. No data was reported for DKJ.
There is still no clear timetable for the official re-licensing of the companies by the federal government and a proposed royalty collection has not yet been put it place, so observers do not expect any of the independent smelters to be operating before March.
Meanwhile one of the two major Indonesian tin smelters, PT Koba Tin, has been operating at a much reduced rate since January 23 as an ongoing police investigation of its purchasing activities continues. The company has temporarily suspended all ore purchases and movements of materials in and out of the plant are severely restricted.
