The Ministry of Environment has sealed the nickel mining operation of PT Anugerah Surya Pratama (PT ASP) in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, due to environmental violations.
Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq confirmed that ASP’s mining area covers 109.23 hectares. “This has already been addressed, and a sealing notice board has also been placed by our law enforcement team,” Hanif said in Central Jakarta on Sunday (June 8, 2025).
The sealing followed findings of high sedimentation levels and turbidity in coastal waters, directly linked to mining activities.
“There is significant turbidity along the coastline, and this of course carries consequences that the company must be held accountable for,” Hanif added.
The Ministry has instructed the Regent of Raja Ampat to re-evaluate the environmental permit granted to PT ASP, as the local authority responsible for issuing the license. Hanif also confirmed that criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits will be pursued.
“The environmental pollution and damage that has occurred will certainly be subject to legal enforcement—both criminal charges and civil lawsuits—because we have documented the environmental conditions as such, and the responsible party must be held accountable for their actions,” he asserted.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, ASP holds a valid mining business license (IUP) until 2034.
Read also: Ministry suspends Gag Nikel’s mining contract
This action comes amid rising protests from environmental activists and local communities concerned about mining impacts in Raja Ampat, one of the world’s most biodiverse marine regions.
The sealing of ASP follows the recent suspension of PT Gag Nikel’s operations by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on June 5, pending environmental verification. Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (IDX: ANTM).
Chusnunia Chalim, Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives Energy Commission, has called for a thorough reassessment of all mining permits in the region, highlighting Raja Ampat’s status as a national super-priority tourism destination and marine conservation area.
In a related move, the Ministry of Forestry has suspended the issuance of new forest use permits (PPKH) in Raja Ampat pending internal reviews, with existing permits under scrutiny for conservation compliance.
Civil society groups continue to demand greater transparency and strict enforcement of environmental laws to safeguard Raja Ampat’s unique ecosystems from mining-related degradation.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
