Asad Asnawi, Pacitan, Indonesia – Indonesia's mining ministry has ordered a suspension of operations at a controversial copper mine on Java Island following claims by local farmers that it was responsible for massive pollution wrecking the livelihoods of 200 families living downriver.
Rice-farming families in Cokrokembang village, Pacitan district, have for more than a year been affected by contaminated water from the Kedung Pinihan River, which irrigates the community's rice fields. The farmers attribute this pollution of the river to waste from the copper mine operated by PT Gemilang Limpah Internusa (GLI).
"We received information... that GLI was temporarily stopped by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources," Cici Roudlotul Jannah, the head of the district environmental agency, told Mongabay Indonesia in a text message.
Rice farmers across Indonesia have faced overwhelming difficulties since the severe drought caused by the 2023 El Nino and positive Indian Ocean dipole. The situation was made worse by rising input costs and limited access to affordable fertilizer following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, two of the world's biggest fertilizer exporters.
Contamination from the mine, located in Kluwih village, is suspected of seeping into the Kedung Pinihan River. The pollution has visibly affected the water, with boulders in the river turning a yellowish orange, and farmers reporting that their crops are failing to develop.
Badrul Amali, a lawyer for GLI, confirmed that the mining ministry had ordered the company to suspend operations.
"I need to emphasize that this is only a temporary suspension, not a closure," Badrul told Mongabay Indonesia by phone on Aug. 3.
Closure order
The elected head of Cokrokembang village, Gunadi, told Mongabay Indonesia the mine had brought little benefit to local residents; on the contrary, he said, many farmers have suffered ruinous losses as their land has been rendered unfit for planting.
"When we found out it was closed we were happy, because that's what the residents have been waiting for," Gunadi told Mongabay Indonesia by phone.
"If possible, it should be closed permanently," he added, "not just temporarily stopped as is the case for now."
Farmers had endured pollution for more than one planting season and should be compensated by the company, he added.
"But we aren't aware of any news yet, there hasn't been any development yet," he said.
In March, Mongabay Indonesia spoke with Parno, a farmer from Cokrokembang village, whose rice plants remained stunted due to contaminated irrigation.
"How can I not be angry?" the 69-year-old told Mongabay Indonesia at his field.
Tests conducted by the local agriculture department revealed copper levels in the river water 25 times higher than the national standard.
Indonesia possesses nearly half of the world's nickel reserves, along with significant deposits of copper, gold and tin, and is also the leading exporter of thermal coal, making the extractive industry a critical driver of economic growth.
Compensation claim
Purnawan Negoro, an environmental lawyer at Widyagama University in East Java province, said the company could restart operations within months.
"This temporary suspension is supposed to give the company the opportunity to make improvements, especially with regard to waste management systems," Purnawan said, adding that wider environmental and economic damage was not factored in to the sanction.
Juli Agus Setiawan, coordinator of community advocacy group Care for Pacitan, said the impact of pollution in the Kedung Pinihan River extended beyond damages to farmland.
"The river is also widely used by residents for other needs," Juli said. "That should also be compensated for."
Wahyu Eka Setiawan, director of the East Java office of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment, a prominent pressure group known as Walhi, said the state's response to the pollution crisis was inadequate.
"It should be closed for good," Wahyu said. "There is a lot of evidence that this company's activities have an impact and damage the living spaces of the surrounding community. The government shouldn't compromise with a polluter like this."
According to GLI lawyer Badrul, the company expects the closure to last no more than four months, which he said was the amount of time required to complete remedial measures.
"Once that's completed, it means we can operate again," he said. "We don't know when that will be, but the sooner the better."