The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has announced the ban would start next year instead of 2022 in a bid to process more minerals at home.

Bambang Gatot Ariyono, the director of Indonesia's mining ministry for coal and minerals has stated that "We already exported 38 million tons up until July this year. At this rate, we would need to think about our reserves especially if we keep issuing exports permits."

The move is also key for plans to turn the country into an electric-vehicle hub. Nickel is used in lithium batteries that power gas-free cars. Most of Indonesia's nickel exports go to China, where they're processed into nickel pig iron, a cheaper alternative to nickel pig iron.

Maritime Business World