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Jokowi comments on the reopening of sea sand export permits

Source
Tempo - September 17, 2024

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The Indonesian government led by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has faced sharp criticism for reopening sea sand export permits, despite concerns about the activity's environmental impact.

The Trade Ministry issued Regulation No. 21 of 2024, amending Regulation No. 23 of 2023, to allow for sea sand exports. This decision has sparked interest among businesses, with at least 66 companies seeking permits to dredge sea sand to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).

The KKP has identified seven dredging locations, referred to as "sedimentation cleaning", in the Java Sea, Makassar Strait, Natuna, and North Natuna. These locations include Demak Regency, Surabaya City, Cirebon Regency, Indramayu Regency, Karawang Regency, the waters around Kutai Kartanegara Regency and Balikpapan City, and the waters around Karimun Island, Lingga Island, and Bintan Island of the Riau Islands Province.

On June 14, 2023, President Jokowi has previously defended the decision to export sea sand, which is rumored to facilitate the interests of Singaporean investors. He clarified that the commodity regulated in the Government Regulation is actually sedimentary sand, which has disrupted shipping and coral reefs.

He also emphasized the need to clean up the sedimentation in the sea and stated that the government had been working on the regulations for a long time.

Sea sand exports were previously banned in 2003 by President Megawati Soekarnoputri due to environmental concerns. The ban was lifted in 2023 with the issuance of Government Regulation Number 26 of 2023, which regulates the management of sedimentation results, including sea sand.

Environmental concerns

The government's recent decision to reopen sea sand exports has been criticized by environmental groups. Parid Ridwanuddin, Coastal and Small Island Campaign Manager of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi), argued on Sunday, September 15, 2024, that the regulation prioritizes short-term profits over environmental concerns.

Parid highlighted that 26 small islands in Indonesia have sunk due to the impact of sea sand mining, particularly in the Riau Islands, Bangka-Belitung, and Jakarta regions.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1917122/jokowi-comments-on-the-reopening-of-sea-sand-export-permit

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