Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Indonesia will ban exports of metal ore by companies that hold IUP Operation Production, or mining permits issued by local governments, starting in May, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik told reporters in Jakarta.

IUP holders could be exempted from the regulation by submitting business plans on their ability to process the raw metals locally, Wacik said. The director general of coal and minerals will review the proposals, he added.

To contact the reporter on this story: Yoga Rusmana in Jakarta at yrusmana@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Greg Ahlstrand at gahlstrand@bloomberg.net