TEMPO.CO, Serang - Indonesian Finance Ministry said that the government has yet to establish a revenue target for sea sand exports in 2025, given the ongoing discussions and concerns surrounding this policy's potential ecological and social impacts.

Wawan Sunarjo, Director of Non-Tax State Revenue at the Ministry of Finance, made this statement during the 2024 Finance Ministry's media gathering in Serang, Banten on September 25, 2024.

"The Government Regulation (PP) for sea sand exports was recently enacted, so we have not set a revenue target for 2025," Wawan stated.

Nevertheless, he provided a preliminary estimate of the potential non-tax state revenue (PNBP) that could be generated from sea sand exports. Based on calculations utilizing the benchmark prices outlined in Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 6 of 2024, the potential revenue could reach a trillion rupiah.

The regulation sets the benchmark price for domestic sea sand at Rp93,000 per cubic meter and Rp186,000 per cubic meter for exports. Assuming an export volume of 50 million cubic meters at the export price and a 35 percent tariff, the estimated revenue could exceed Rp3.2 trillion.

However, Wawan cautioned that the exploration and extraction of sea sand are not straightforward processes. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) mandates preliminary research to determine whether the extracted material is solely sediment or contains other minerals that may restrict exports.

As widely reported, the Indonesian government lifted the ban on sea sand exports, which had been in place for over two decades. This decision, approved by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, followed amendments to two trade regulations (Permendag) signed by Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.

NABIILA AZZAHRA A | KARUNIA PUTRI

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