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  Channel NewsAsia 12 Mar 07
Indonesia mulls possible granite export ban
By Sujadi Siswo, Channel NewsAsia's Indonesia Bureau Chief

Today Online 13 Mar 07
Mixed signals on granite exports to S'pore
Quibbles over technical terms surface, while officials hint at a possible ban

Straits Times 13 Mar 07
Indonesia mulling over granite export ban
Discussions into the possibility of such a move are ongoing, say two ministers
By Azhar Ghani, Indonesia Bureau Chief

Today Online 12 Mar 07
Indonesia ups the ante on granite

BATAM — A second Indonesian navy commander has urged his country's government to impose a ban on the export of granite, barely weeks after Jakarta halted the sale of sand to other countries.

According to Antara news agency, the commander of the Indonesian Navy's Western Fleet, Junior Marshal Mulyono, said over the weekend that Jakarta should impose a granite export ban because of the impact granite mining has had on the environment.

"If the impact (on the environment) is similar (to sand mining), we should also impose similar regulations on granite," he said.

This latest call for a granite ban echo earlier calls by the Commander of Tanjung Pinang Naval Base, First Marshal Among Margono, who was reported to have also proposed a ban to the central government, while Indonesian State Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar was quoted by the Batam Pos last week as saying that the proposal had been approved at the Cabinet level.

Singapore has asked for an explanation.

Antara had reported that excessive granite mining has triggered environmental damage in a number of areas in the Riau Province, such as Bintan and Karimun, and several Indonesian ministries are discussing the issue.

Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is reported to be studying the extent to which granite mining can be tolerated, the Environment Ministry is studying the impact of such activity on the surroundings, while the Trade Ministry is evaluating the potential profit and loss from granite exports.

If granite exports are also banned, it will impact Singapore's construction sector, Antara reported.

Indonesia's earlier ban on the export of sand has forced Singapore builders — among the biggest buyers of sand — to look to alternative sources. The Singapore Government has also released sand from its stockpile.

Political analysts say the latest threat is meant to up the ante and force Singapore towards signing an extradition treaty, which would be a feather in the cap for some quarters in the Indonesian government.

Some Indonesian politicians have said publicly that this was the agenda behind the sand ban. This despite the fact that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had agreed in Oct 2005 to negotiate the extradition treaty in tandem with a defence agreement.

Channel NewsAsia 12 Mar 07
Indonesia mulls possible granite export ban
By Sujadi Siswo, Channel NewsAsia's Indonesia Bureau Chief

JAKARTA: Indonesia's Environment Minister has said his ministry will study the environmental impact of granite quarrying in the Riau islands, a hint that the material may be banned from export.

Mr Rahmat Witoelar's sentiment was supported by the country's chief of the Western Fleet who said granite mining was causing environmental damage.

Rear Admiral Mulyono urged the central government to impose a ban on granite exports, similar to restrictions on the sale of sand to other countries. He claimed that granite mining in some areas had resulted in craters as deep as 80 metres.

Indonesian Navy ships in recent weeks have intercepted dozens of barges carrying granite en route to Singapore. Officers alleged the barges were smuggling sand under the cover of dust stone to escape detection.

The Governor of the Riau Islands, however, has insisted that granite exports will continue despite the interception of the barges. Mr Ismeth Abdullah said no more barges would be stopped if proper procedures were followed. Under Indonesian law, granite exports must undergo stringent verification to prevent environmental damage and illegal exports.

Riau is already reeling from the recent sand ban, and the Governor says a ban on granite exports would further devastate the province's revenues. He is therefore against such a ban.

Indonesia's earlier ban on the export of sand has forced Singapore builders - among the biggest buyers of sand - to look to alternative sources. The Singapore government has also released sand from its stockpile. If granite exports are also banned, it will impact Singapore's construction sector, says Indonesia's Antara news agency. - CNA/ir

Today Online 13 Mar 07
Mixed signals on granite exports to S'pore
Quibbles over technical terms surface, while officials hint at a possible ban

JAKARTA When it comes to the export of granite, nothing seems cast in stone in Indonesia.

Several Jakarta officials yesterday hinted at a possible ban on the export of granite to Singapore. Meanwhile, provincial authorities from the Riau islands insisted that the exports will continue.

The issue also took a more technical twist. While the official Indonesian stand has been that there is a ban on the export of land sand to Singapore--and no ban on granite exports--the focus has now shifted to granite chips.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said the government was now looking into whether the export of granite chips should continue. His comments come in the wake of allegations by the Indonesian Navy that 13 Singapore-bound barges and tugboats that were detained were found to have contraband sand underneath the granite shipments.

Mr Hassan said yesterday that while there was no ban on granite exports, "discussions on the possibility of granite chips are ongoing".

"It is our right as a sovereign nation to ban sand exports for the sake of environmental protection," Mr Hassan was quoted by Reuters as saying. Earlier this month, Mr Hassan and Trade Minister Mari Pangestu told Singapore that there was no export ban on granite and they would check why the barges were detained.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle weighed in on the issue, urging the government to take firmer actions against people found exporting sand and granite to Singapore, Antara news agency reported. This even though there is no ban on granite exports.

This prompted Indonesia's Environment Minister Rahmat Witoelar to say that his ministry will study the environmental impact of granite quarrying in the Riau islands. He said officials would determine whether granite mining was as harmful for the environment as sand mining.

Observers say that it could indicate a step closer to a ban on granite exports. "We haven't banned the (granite) exports yet, but we must limit any export of natural resources if our environment is being damaged by the mining of these resources," Mr Rahmat told The Jakarta Post.

This contradicted his comments made in the Batam Pos last week to the effect that the Indonesian Cabinet had already approved a granite ban and that it would take effect soon. He later denied making those remarks, saying he was misquoted.

Riau islands Governor Ismeth Abdullah, however, guaranteed that despite the seizure by the Navy of a number of barges, granite exports would continue.

"It is true that the Navy has intercepted several barges carrying granite, but they (the barges) were not following proper procedures. We guarantee that export activities will continue in the province, as the export of the material is not banned. No more ships will be detained if they follow procedures," he told the Post.

He said the Riau islands would oppose a ban on granite exports, which would further slash provincial revenue following the central government's ban on sand. Indonesia has banned sand exports to all countries, a move that has affected the construction industry in Singapore. But Singapore has found alternative sources.

The contradictory comments coming out of Jakarta has prompted Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek clarification.

Political analysts say that the latest threat is to up the ante and force Singapore towards signing an extradition treaty, which would be a feather in the cap for some quarters in the Indonesian government.

Some Indonesian politicians have said publicly that this was the agenda behind the sand ban. This despite the fact that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had agreed in October 2005 to negotiate the extradition treaty in tandem with a defence agreement.

Straits Times 13 Mar 07
Indonesia mulling over granite export ban
Discussions into the possibility of such a move are ongoing, say two ministers
By Azhar Ghani, Indonesia Bureau Chief

JAKARTA - INDONESIA is considering a ban on granite exports, just a month after imposing one on sand. If the country decides on a ban, Singapore, which imports most of its granite aggregate - about 10 million tonnes a year - from there, will be hit.

Two Cabinet members - Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar - have confirmed that a ban has been considered.

Mr Wirajuda said yesterday that 'discussions on the possibility of banning exports of granite chips are ongoing'. 'It is our right as a sovereign nation to ban sand exports for the sake of environmental protection,' he added.

Mr Rachmat was quoted in the Jakarta Post as saying that his ministry was studying if an export ban on granite was needed. 'We haven't banned the exports yet, but we must limit any exports of natural resources if our environment is being damaged by the mining of these resources,' he said.

Several Singapore-bound barges bearing granite were detained by the Indonesian navy recently. Navy officials reportedly said that these had to do with the interdiction of contraband sand hidden in the granite shipments.

But the navy has since added to the calls for a ban, claiming that granite mining has led to environmental degradation in areas such as the Bintan and Karimun islands. Western Fleet commander Rear-Admiral Muyono told Antara news agency: 'If the impact is similar (to sand mining), we should also impose similar regulations on granite.'

His subordinate, Tanjung Pinang base commander First Marshall Among Margono, also confirmed that discussions were under way on a ban, with the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry studying the tolerable limits of granite mining and the Trade Ministry doing a cost-benefit analysis of granite exports.

Confusion has surrounded Indonesia's recent actions on the export of building materials. When it first banned sand exports on Feb 6, the official word was that it was to protect the country's environment and maritime borders.

But soon after, several Indonesian officials said publicly that the move was taken to pressure Singapore into quickly concluding an extradition treaty and resolving issues related to border demarcations and a defence pact.

Then came the detention of granite-bearing barges, which raised concerns about an impending stop to granite exports. Dr Hassan and Trade Minister Mari Pangestu initially told Singapore that there was no ban on granite exports and that they would check why the barges were detained.

But Mr Rachmat was quoted by the Batam Pos last week as saying that a granite ban had been approved at Cabinet level and would take effect soon - only to deny this later.

The inconsistencies prompted Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry to seek a clarification at a meeting yesterday with Indonesian charge d'affaires Andradjati on what Mr Rachmat meant by his remarks.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Indonesia's Riau Islands province, Mr Ismeth Abdullah, has expressed opposition to a ban, saying the province was already hurting from the loss of revenue from the sand ban.

In Singapore, the Government has moved to seek alternative sources of granite. The detention of barges carrying granite to Singapore has led it to release granite chips from its stockpile to ensure a steady supply of the material, which is used in making concrete.

Asked about the impact of any granite ban, Singapore Contractors Association president Desmond Hill said: 'It all depends on how big the Goverment's granite stockpile is and how fast we can get alternative supplies.' There has been no problem in getting supplies, he said, but added that rising costs are a source of concern.

with additional information from Tan Hui Yee in Singapore and Reuters
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