Government Plans to Ban Quartz Sand Exports: What's the Production Trend?

Investment Minister/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that the government plans to ban the export of silica sand or quartz sand to encourage its downstream industry domestically.

Quartz sand is a raw material for the production of various goods, such as glass, water filters, ceramics, and solar panel technology.

"We want quartz sand to be managed in the future, and it is not impossible to ban its export," said Bahlil in a press conference at the Ministry of Investment Office, Jakarta, as reported by *Katadata.co.id*, Friday (21/7/2023).

"Because in the future the world will be *green energy*, it will definitely need this (quartz sand)," he continued.

Responding to this, the Indonesian Quartz Miners Association (HIPKI) urged the government not to rush into banning exports.

"Why? Because Indonesia is not the world's main producer of quartz sand. So, if this export ban is implemented, other producing countries will benefit," said HIPKI Chairman General Ady Indra Pawennari, as reported by *Kontan.co.id*, Thursday (27/7/2023).

According to Ady, so far, national quartz sand production and exports have had almost no impact on the development of the global solar panel industry.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Indonesia's quartz sand mining production volume in 2019 reached 2.18 million cubic meters. Then the amount decreased to 1.87 million cubic meters in 2020, and increased again to 2.04 million cubic meters in 2021.

(See also: Jokowi and Luhut Become the Most Spotlighted Figures on Twitter Amid Sea Sand Export Discussions)