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JAKARTA, March 6 (Reuters) - The Indonesian government has issued a regulation allowing mineral companies to export unprocessed ore in force majeure situations, the energy ministry said on Thursday.

Indonesia banned exports of raw minerals in 2023 to encourage metals processing at home, but has made some exemptions, including to miner PT Freeport Indonesia, which was granted a permit last year to export copper concentrate until repairs at its Manyar smelter are completed.

Freeport has asked the government for a new export license after its previous one lapsed at the end of last year.

Dadan Kusdiana, secretary general of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said export permits are valid for six months after the ministry issues a recommendation they be granted.

Dadan told Reuters Freeport Indonesia had yet to request a new export license for copper concentrate. Freeport Indonesia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bloomberg Technoz had earlier on Thursday cited a deputy energy minister as saying Freeport Indonesia would be allowed to export copper concentrate until June 2025 following the issue of the new regulation.

(Reporting by Fransisca Nangoy, Ananda Teresia and Dewi Kurniawati; Editing by Martin Petty)

((Ananda.Teresia@thomsonreuters.com;))