JAKARTA – Indonesia has resumed exports of minerals that may contain rare earth elements as byproducts, the president's office said on Monday, following complaints from the metals industry about shipment delays caused by compulsory rare earth content inspections.

Exports of minerals including bauxite, alumina, copper cathodes and nickel derivatives have faced delays due to a mandatory testing programme for rare earth element (REE) content and uncertainty about how much rare earth content in other products is allowed to be exported.

"Exporting rare earth elements as a primary product is indeed prohibited. It does not automatically apply to REE content found as accompanying or byproduct elements in primary and derivative mining products," presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman said in a press conference.

The announcement is "a transitional guideline" for exporters, surveyors, and customs and excise authorities, Dudung said, while the government prepares regulations that will address issues around rare earth content exports.

The government will meet with stakeholders on Monday to discuss the concentration limits for each element, laboratory testing methods, verification mechanisms and guidelines for issuing surveyor reports, he said.

The lack of guidelines hasdiscouraged surveyors from issuing export documents, fearing prosecution after a recent investigation by authorities into mineral shipments allegedly containing REEs.

Indonesia is a major exporter of minerals, yet its rare earth production remains limited, occurring mainly as a byproduct. The government had not previously specified how much rare earth content may be present in shipments of other minerals.

Dudung said PT Sucofindo, which carries out the mandatory testing programme, will soon issue 85 surveyor reports that were delayed after they indicated traces of rare earth elements.

Last week, nickel industry group FINI said businesses were waiting for around 120 surveyor reports to be issued.

"Previously there were just over a hundred ships that were delayed. But they are now able to sail," Dudung said.

The delayed surveyor reports mainly belong to companies which export alumina, copper cathode, and nickel-derived products, he said.

Dudung also said that exports of mining products which contain radioactive elements may be allowed as long as the content "is classified as naturally occurring radioactive material" and fulfilled safety testing and requirements according to regulations.

Mineral-rich Indonesia has an ambition to develop its own rare earth industry and President Prabowo Subianto has formed a mineral agency in charge of overseeing the efforts.

Earlier this year, the mineral agency said it had identified eight mining blocks with large potential for rare earth elements and will conduct research into their processing technology.