Ministry denies involvement in alleged illegal nickel ore exports

As the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continues an investigation into alleged illegal exports of nickel ore to China, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry claims it has not issued any approvals since the ban on the in-demand metal was implemented in 2020. The ministry’s special staffer for the acceleration of mineral and coal management, Irwandy Arif, said that his ministry had never issued recommended export approvals to the Trade Ministry since the ban took effect “From that period until now, there has been no plan to export nickel ore abroad in the yearly budget and work plan document approved by the [ministry’s] Directorate General of Mineral and Coal,” Irwandy said on Saturday, as quoted by Tempo.co.