Govt seeks to lure investment of Rp 830 Triliun in value-added mineral projects

The government is seeking to lure investment of up to Rp 830 trillion in value-added mineral projects up until 2014. In order to support the move, the government considers providing incentives, including for companies planning to build smelter plants, said Wimpy S Tjetjep, Deputy Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Energy and Mineral Resources.

Wimpy said at the Energy & Mining Indonesia Exhibition Wednesday that there are a lot of potential investors planning to build smelter plants. One among investors interested to build a nickel smelter plan is a company from China, which is considering to invest around Rp60 trillion.

Bambang Gatot Ariyono, Head of Mineral and Coal Enterprises Sub-directorate at the energy ministry, said another company to build a smelter plan is PT Nusantara Smelting Corp. The company plans to build a copper smelter in Bontang, East Kalimantan. The company is yet to start conducting feasibility study as it is still waiting for the realization of the government?s incentive policy for the sector.

Bambang Gatot said the proposed incentive policy is being drafted by the government. The incentives could be in the form of favorable depreciation policy, and so on. (giok/roffie)