Arti Ekawati, Janeman Latul & Teguh Prasetyo
Jakarta Globe 23 Apr 09;
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is strongly against lifting of ban on sea sand exports to Singapore, with a senior official arguing that sea sand mining had negative effects on the country.
“It would be better if we do not lift the ban,” Aji Sularso, the director general for sea resources at the ministry, said in an interview at his office.
In 2002, the Ministry of Trade allowed sand exports, with stringent conditions defining limits sets on exploitation areas. Aji supervised a team investigating sea sand mining control and supervision in 2002, which resulted in the ministry allowing partial sand quarrying at the time.
“However, the damage was greater than the benefits,” he said, adding that although selling sand could boost exports, it could also lead to an environmental disaster.
“We should not prioritize economic benefits over the ecological impact,” he said.
For example, in the outlying Nipah Island in the Riau region, the provincial administration has received considerable revenue from sand extraction. However, in order to maintain the integrity of Indonesia’s territorial borders, sand had to be transported from other islands to ensure Nipah did not sink into the sea.
Nipah is close to the Indonesian border with Singapore and Indonesia must maintain it as an island if it wants to ensure claims on its maritime borders. “It cost the state budget Rp 350 billion [$32.2 million] for Nipah’s reclamation, so did the sand exports really bring any benefit to us? I don’t think so,” he added.
Other government agencies have also opposed lifting the ban.
“The Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed its objection, citing sovereignty reasons, while the Directorate General of Custom and Exercise also objected to the plan,” Aji said.
On Wednesday, the Trade Ministry said it was evaluating whether to continue a 2007 ban on the export of sea sand to Singapore. Irwandi Rajabasa, a representative of sea sand exporters welcomed the plan, saying that the government should carefully control mining activities if it was going to be effective.
But Toto Dirgantoro, vice chairman of the Indonesian Exporters Association, or GPEI, called on his members to stop importing sand, saying that it only widened Singapore’s territory at Indonesia ’s expense.
