PT Sumber Graha Sejahtera (SGS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samko Timber Limited—-controlled by Sampoerna and Winarko families, has on September 16, 2019 entered into agreement with PT Barito Wanabinar Indonesia (WBI), member of Barito Pacific Group, for the development of timber operations in eastern part of Indonesia.

China Coal Energy Co Ltd produced 897,000 tons last month, grew 37.2% year-on-year, leading to a 38.3% increase for the first eight months of 2019 to 6.84 million tons. Coal sales grew 14.6% to 1.95 million tons last month and 30% to 14.07 million tons in the first eight months of 2019.

On September 12, 2019, PT Austindo Nusantara Jaya Tbk (ANJT) signed agreements with PT Evans Indonesia and Mr Praba Madhavan for divestment of minority shares in some companies with combined consideration of US$35 million. According to the agreements, ANJT will get US$25.42 million from PT Evans Indonesia and US$9.75 million from Mr Praba Madhavan.

Nickel ore, nickel pig iron (NPI), and pure nickel jumped in Shanghai, China Tuesday (Sep 3) following confirmation about export ban of nickel ore from Indonesia effective January 1st, 2020, two years ahead of the original schedule. Low-grade nickel ores from the Philippines jumped 10% to US$33.5 per ton (average), while higher grade ores from Indonesia gained 8% to US$54 per ton.

The government formally declared today (Sept 2) that export of nickel ores will banned from January 1st, 2020 to ensure sustainability of supply for domestic smelters. The formal announcement was responded positively by stock market players. Nickel Mines Ltd, an ASX-listed company with two nickel processing subsidiaries in Indonesia, jumped 15.5% Monday to make a market capitalization of A$913.72 million.

Shares of class-1 nickel producer Vale Indonesia (INCO) surged by nearly 15% this morning to respond the government’s decision, slated to be formally announced today, to accelerate export ban on nickel ores from 2022 to January 2020. Shares of Aneka Tambang (ANTM) also gained 6% on IDX, while Nickel Mines Ltd jumped 10% in Sydney, Australia.

No exception! Palm oil producer PT Sawit Sumbermas Sarana Tbk (SSMS) suffered net loss of Rp15 billion in the first half of 2019 against net profit of Rp324.8 billion in the corresponding period last year because of squeezed margins from falling prices of crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel.

Some online publications quoted Ignasius Jonan, minister of energy and mineral resources, about nickel ore export ban yesterday. Jonan was quoted saying export of nickel ores can only be done until the end of this year. Jonan also said that he has signed new regulation about the issue.

Electric vehicle (EV) is considered one of the biggest structural trends of the 21st century. It is in this context that Blackstone Resources AG, a company based in Switzerland, has recently entered into strategic partnership with Indonesian company. The partnership will initially involve exporting of ore, concentrates, and refined products of nickel, copper, and other technology metals.

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo mentioned about domestic processing of coal in his annual state of the nation address on August 16, 2019. Earlier in December 2018, energy and mineral resources minister Ignasius Jonan, criticized coal miners for their lack investments in adding value to the country’s coal resources.