Protests from environmental activists and church leaders have compelled the Indonesian government to halt nickel mining at an ecologically sensitive tropical marine hotspot in the Papua region.
On June 10, the government revoked permits for four of the five mining companies operating in the eastern archipelago of Raja Ampat, a UNESCO-recognized geopark and a popular tourist destination.
President Prabowo Subianto "decided that the government will revoke the mining business licence of four companies in Raja Ampat," state secretariat minister Prasetyo Hadi told reporters.
Energy and mineral resources minister Bahlil Lahadalia said "they have violated" regulations.
"We believe this region must be protected," he said.
Lahadalia faced an unprecedented protest when he attempted to visit Sorong, Southwest Papua province, reportedly to inspect mining sites located in the Raja Ampat Islands on June 7.
Dozens of activists and residents marched through the streets ahead of the visit, prompting the minister to flee the airport, reports said.
The licence revocation also followed the publication of videos by Greenpeace Indonesia last week, which showed environmental damage to three islands caused by nickel mining projects. One of the video clip garnered over 15 million Instagram views.
Greenpeace said nickel exploitation on the islands of Gag, Kawe and Manuran had led to the destruction of more than 500 hectares (1,200 acres) of forest and vegetation.
Raja Ampat Islands is a cluster of islands and shoals, considered one of the world's most pristine reefs, with its clear blue waters making it a popular diving spot.
In 2023, Raja Ampat Islands were designated a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Indonesia holds the world's largest nickel reserves and is the top producer of this metal, which is utilized in electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel. A 2020 export ban has sparked a domestic industrial boom.
Environmentalists say coral reefs and marine life are threatened by the operations, but Bahlil denied the surrounding environment had been harmed.
"If people say the coral reefs and the ocean have been damaged, you can see for yourself. Please be careful to differentiate which one is real and which one is not," he said.
One more company – PT Gag Nikel – will continue to operate on Raja Ampat's Gag island but be closely monitored, said Bahlil. It received its operational permit in 2017.
'Church battles avarice'
Nickel mining in Raja Ampat has aroused controversy and sparked a national debate during the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference and Expo in Jakarta on June 3.
Iqbal Damanik from Greenpeace said they are extremely concerned about the reactivation of nickel mining and the issuance of 16 mining permits in Raja Ampat.
He claimed that Greenpeace investigations found nickel mining had started on several islands in Raja Ampat, including Gag Island, Kawe Island, and Manuran Island.
"Papua is not empty land! This is our ancestral heritage, not an empty space to be destroyed by investors!" shouted Uni Klawen, a young local resident, in a video of the protest that took social media by storm
As per the 2024 law on management of regions, coasts, and small islands, mining on these three small islands is illegal, he said.
Nickel exploration on these islands has cleared more than 500 hectares of forest and typical natural vegetation, he added.
Bishop Bernardus Baru of Timika in Papua said that mining in Raja Ampat is a form of "oligarchy, greed, and avarice."
"The actions of the oligarchs were based on a spirit of evil that has taken control of humans with the interests of capitalism," he told UCA News.
Indonesia has boosted nickel mining recently to meet demand for electric vehicles. The country accounts for 23% of the total global nickel reserves.
Melky Nahar, a Catholic and coordinator of the Mining Advocacy Network, said mining causes more damage to people and the environment than economic benefits.
"A damaged ecosystem means that we lose the living space and production space of forest, sea, and water source communities that have supported food, fisheries, and nature-based tourism," he said.
Greenpeace Indonesia said the decision was a good start but the government needed to take further action.
"We need to make sure the decision will be implemented. We need to make sure they stop," forest campaign team leader Arie Rompas said.
He warned that the government could reissue the permits later, or the companies could appeal the decision in court.
Source: https://www.ucanews.com/news/protests-force-indonesia-to-revoke-mining-permits-in-papua/10928