Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesian Forum for the Environment or Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (Walhi) urges the government to revoke the mining permit of PT Gag Nikel in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua. The Head of Walhi's Campaign Division, Fanny Tri Jambore, believes that allowing PT Gag to operate will endanger the marine ecosystem in the region.

Previously, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia stated the revocation of four out of five IUPs in Raja Ampat. These four IUPs were owned by PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, and PT Nurham.

"Revoking the four mining permits is a good step, but allowing PT Gag Nikel to continue operating on Gag Island is very contradictory to the spirit of ecosystem protection," Fanny said in a written statement on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

According to Fanny, mining activities on small islands are very risky because the carrying capacity of small islands is limited. Mining activities can cause damage to both the terrestrial and marine ecosystems, directly impacting the health and livelihood of the local community.

"Gag Island has already shown signs of damage. The fish that were once easily found are now disappearing, the coastal areas have turned into mining docks, and mining dust causes respiratory problems," she said.

Fanny explained that the presence of mining on small islands is also in contradiction with Law Number 1 of 2014 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands. The regulation states that mining activities are not a priority and are even prohibited on small islands.

"Gag Island falls into this category. This prohibition is also affirmed through decisions of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, which mention mining on small islands as a high-risk activity that can cause permanent damage," she said.

The Director of Walhi Papua, Maikel Peuki, stated that PT Gag Nikel's activities on Gag Island will impact the fate of the indigenous people on the island. He mentioned that mining activities could force residents to leave their customary land, erase cultural identity, and destroy the natural heritage of Papua for future generations.

Maikel believes that the government should not only focus on revoking partial permits, but should conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all mining permits on small islands. Currently, Maikel said, there are still at least 248 active mining permits on 43 small islands in Indonesia. If not stopped immediately, this exploitation will accelerate the damage to coastal ecosystems and threaten the survival of local communities.

"If the government is serious about environmental commitment and climate justice, then revoking PT Gag Nikel's permit is an urgent step. This is not just about regulations, but about the safety of the ecosystem and future generations," Fanny said.

The Acting President Director of PT Gag Nikel, Arya Kurnia, stated that his company has complied with regulations and prioritized environmental aspects. "Based on this permit, we have informed our employees and stakeholders that we will continue to adjust operational conditions in accordance with the directives from the Director General of Mineral and Coal of the Ministry of ESDM, to prioritize environmental conditions," Arya said at a meeting with the media in South Jakarta on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

He also explained the current activities at the mining site. According to him, environmental rehabilitation efforts are still being carried out because they cannot be stopped. However, for production, sales, and so on, they have temporarily stopped while waiting for an official decision from the government.

Arya explained that since the company officially started production in 2018, PT Gag Nikel has obtained an official AMDAL (Environmental Impact Analysis) and has been monitored by the Ministry of Environment. He also claimed to have reclaimed former mines by planting tens of thousands of endemic plant seeds on 130 hectares of land. They also periodically monitor water quality and biodiversity."

– Illona Estherina contributed to the writing of this article.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2016892/walhi-urges-govt-to-revoke-pt-gag-nikel-mining-permit-in-raja-ampa