INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta, the Ministry of Industry said investment in the smelter industry sector, both expansion and investment, only reached 3 billion US dollars in early 2018.

It is considered to be a fresh breeze because it can boost the growth of metal processing and refining industry in Indonesia.

Director General of Metal, Machine, Transportation Equipment and Electronics Industries of the Ministry of Industry, Harjanto stated that the smelter industry in Indonesia has a good competitiveness in the global market, provided the trade is done fairly.

"Throughout the fair, the industry has good competitiveness," said Harjanto in Jakarta (30/1/2018).

Harjanto detailed that investment for nickel pig iron reached 350 million US dollars, then for ferronickel reached 2.5 billion US dollars and copper processing of 135 million US dollars.

"The price of commodities, such as coal is improving, ferronickel also improves, this will encourage the growth of the smelter industry in Indonesia, especially the world economy is also getting better," said Harjanto.

In addition to requiring adequate raw materials, he said, the development of investment in the smelter sector also requires financing support.

He also asked the banks to support the financing of the smelter industry that is judged to be getting better. The support of the banking sector through financing facilities is assessed to further stretch the industry, thus contributing to the growth of the metal industry, as well as the national non-oil and gas industry.

However, Harjanto explained, the problem of the smelter industry in Indonesia is the issue of licensing dualism. "This licensing dualism is confusing to investors, so we will try to find a solution," he said.

According to him, Industrial Business License (IUI) and Mining Business License for Special Purification Production Processing Operations (IUP OP Purification Processes) bring uncertain investment climate.

Because some smelter industries are required to have Mining Business License (IUP), whereas they only do processing and purification activities, and do not own mining land. "Well, they finally forced to make the IUP," said Harjanto.

To that end, the Ministry of Industry requested the Association of Indonesian Processing and Refinery Industry (AP3I) to record the company and related issues in detail.

After that, the Ministry of Industry will discuss it at the level of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs to find the right solution. "After the official data I received, we will discuss at the level of Coordinating Minister," said Harjanto.