【Ferro-alloys.com】Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has inaugurated a nickel ore processing and refining plant in Konawe district, Southeast Sulawesi, which will have a production capacity of more than 1 million tons per year.

"Today, we see immediately, we will officiate a smelter that produces ferronickel. Imagine if we only export raw materials," he remarked at the inauguration on Monday, which was streamed on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel.

The President lauded PT. Gunbuster Nickel Industry for building the nickel smelter plant. He said that the added value of nickel produced from the smelter will be up to 14 times higher compared to its raw form.

He stressed that Indonesia will continue to try to stop the exports of raw materials by promoting the national downstream industry. After halting exports of nickel raw materials, Indonesia will next halt exports of bauxite raw materials, he informed.

"At the end of next year, I will have given a warm-up beforehand (by) stopping the (export of) raw materials for bauxite. Next year, we will cease (exporting) again, for other minerals and coal,” he said.

That way, industry players and investors will set up factories in Indonesia whether they like it or not, Widodo remarked. If downstreaming continues to be expedited, then Indonesia will get many benefits such as increased tax revenues, job creation, and also foreign exchange, he highlighted.

"So that we no longer export raw materials, which we have been doing for decades, which does not provide so much added value to the state," he said.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Cabinet Secretary Minister Pramono Anung, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, National Police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and other officials also attended the inauguration.

• [Editor:Alakay]