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Summary

The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Trade, has officially opened the export of sea sand, which was banned under President Megawati's administration due to its detrimental environmental impact. The new policy, outlined in Ministerial Regulation No. 20 of 2024, allows for the export of sea sand after domestic needs are met. However, environmental groups like WALHI argue that this move violates the constitution and could lead to significant environmental damage. The exported sand is primarily used for land reclamation in Singapore, contributing to its territorial expansion. The House of Representatives' Commission IV plans to question the government on the policy's potential harm to Indonesia.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The government, through the Ministry of Trade, has officially reopened the export of sea sand.
• ⚠️ Environmental group WALHI believes this policy will cause environmental damage.
• 📜 The export of sea sand was banned during President Megawati's era due to environmental concerns.
• 🔄 In 2023, President Joko Widodo issued Government Regulation No. 26, allowing sea sand exports again.
• ⚖️ The new regulation permits the extraction of sea sand to manage sedimentation, as outlined in Article 6.
• 🌍 Export licenses will only be issued after domestic needs for sea sand have been met, according to the Ministry of Trade.
• 🚫 WALHI argues that the plan to export sea sand violates the constitution, as it contradicts environmental protection laws.
• ❓ The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) will question the government about the potential negative impacts of this policy.
• 📊 Before the ban, most of the sea sand from Riau Islands was exported to Singapore, helping the country expand its land area.
• 📈 With imports of sea sand from Indonesia, Singapore's land area has increased from 578 km² before independence to 735.6 km² as of June 2024.

Q & A

What action has the Indonesian government taken regarding sand export?

The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Trade, has officially opened the sand export gate.

What is the concern expressed by Walhi regarding the sand export policy?

Walhi, the Indonesian Environmental Forum, believes that reopening the sand export policy will cause environmental damage.

In which year was the sand export from Indonesia's seas banned, and why?

The sand export was banned during the era of President Megawati's government, around 20 years ago, due to the negative impact of sand exploitation on the environment.

What regulation allowed the resumption of sand export in 2023?

President Joko Widodo issued Government Regulation No. 26 of 2023, which allowed the resumption of sand export.

What is the purpose of the sand export according to the new regulation?

The sand export is part of the implementation of Government Regulation No. 26 of 2023, which is about managing sedimentation results in the sea, allowing certain parties to dredge sand to control sedimentation.

What conditions are set for sand export according to the regulation?

The sand export can only be done after domestic needs are met, and the export is not allowed to be done arbitrarily.

What is Walhi's legal argument against the sand export policy?

Walhi argues that the sand export plan violates the constitution because it contradicts laws that mandate the state to protect and restore the environment and reduce pollution.

How does the sand export potentially affect Indonesia's territory according to the script?

The sand export could potentially lead to the expansion of other countries' territories while reducing Indonesia's, which is considered detrimental to the nation and its people.

What role does the Commission IV of the DPR have in questioning the sand export policy?

The Commission IV of the DPR will question the government about the sand export policy to ensure it does not cause serious environmental damage and does not harm Indonesia.

Where was the majority of sand exported from the Riau Islands before the ban, and what was it used for?

Before the ban, the majority of sand from the Riau Islands was exported to Singapore, where it was primarily used for land reclamation.

What is the estimated volume of sand exported from the Riau Islands, and how has Singapore's land area changed due to sand imports?

The estimated volume of sand exported from the Riau Islands is 250 million metric tons per year. As a result of sand imports from Indonesia, Singapore's land area has increased from 578 km² to 735.6 km² as of June 2024.