Indonesia bans sand shipments
BATAM 05 December – Indonesia’s Riau Islands province has banned all inland sand exports to Singapore following instructions from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Exports of coastal sand to Singapore were stopped in 2002. Sand quarrying companies in Karimun, Lingga and Bintan had suspended operations since 26 November. The Riau Sand Exporters Association has protested against the decision, pointing out that 3,600 workers had lost their jobs, according to The Jakarta Post. Sand exports to nearby land-hungry Singapore, which needs sand for reclamation, has been a sensitive issue as the ban is linked to maritime border issues. A number of foreign vessels have been arrested by Indonesian authorities in recent years for alleged illegal sand dredging operations. Sand exports to Singapore have been a lucrative industry with an annual turnover of more than $11Bn. According to the daily, each cubic metre of sand was sold at S$7.20 ($4.60), of which S$3.30 went to the local administration as tax. Monthly shipments to Singapore amounted to as much as 300,000m³.
Etiquetas: international maritime affairs
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on martes, diciembre 05, 2006 at 1:46 p. m..
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