Indonesian lawmakers are pressing the government to re-evaluate nickel mining permits in the ecologically sensitive region of Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, following the suspension of operations at PT Gag Nikel by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
The calls from the House of Representatives (DPR) come amid growing national concern over environmental degradation, legal violations, and the long-term impact of mining in one of the world's most biodiverse marine areas.
Chusnunia Chalim, Deputy Chair of the DPR’s Energy Commission, urged the government to reassess all mining business permits (IUP) issued in the region, stressing the need to balance economic interests with environmental preservation. “Raja Ampat is a national super-priority tourism destination and a marine conservation area. Mining operations here should be reconsidered in light of their environmental impact,” he said in a statement on Friday.
The suspension of PT Gag Nikel — a subsidiary of PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM) — was announced by Minister Bahlil Lahadalia on Thursday, pending field verification of the company's impact on the surrounding environment. Although the company holds a valid Contract of Work and environmental permit, its activities have come under intense scrutiny following reports of regulatory breaches.
The temporary suspension comes after a wave of protests from environmental groups and local communities. Activists from Greenpeace Indonesia and indigenous Papuan youth staged a demonstration at the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference earlier this week, accusing the government of prioritizing industrial expansion at the expense of one of the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems.
Read also: Ministry suspends Gag Nikel’s mining contract
“For the time being, we will stop operations until field verification,” Minister Bahlil stated, noting that PT Gag Nikel is currently the only nickel mining company actively operating in Raja Ampat. While five mining contracts exist in the region, only PT Gag Nikel has commenced full-scale production.
The company’s contract, awarded in 2017, covers over 13,000 hectares on Gag Island and supports an annual production capacity of three million wet metric tons. Despite its legal permits and environmental approvals, the mining activity has drawn intense scrutiny for its location on a small island within a globally renowned conservation zone.
In a statement released Thursday, Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq confirmed his office had uncovered multiple violations across several mining sites in Raja Ampat, including noncompliance with environmental permits, unauthorized land clearing, and sedimentation harming coastal ecosystems.
"Mining on small islands undermines the principle of intergenerational justice," said Hanif, warning that permits could be revoked if damage to irreplaceable ecosystems is confirmed. He cited Constitutional Court Decision No. 35/PUU-XXI/2023, which explicitly prohibits mining activities in coastal and small island areas due to their high ecological vulnerability.
DPR Commission VII member Cheroline Christe Makalew, criticized the environmental and social consequences of extractive industries operating in ecologically fragile zones. “Let’s be honest — national strategic projects should not come at the cost of sacrificing Papua,” she said, as quoted by Tempo.co.
Ministry of Forestry freezes new permits
In a related development, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has suspended the issuance of new forest use permits (PPKH) in Raja Ampat pending an internal review. Director General of Forestry Planning Ade Triaji Kusumah confirmed that existing approvals — two issued in 2020 and 2022 — are under evaluation for compliance with conservation regulations.
“We are prioritizing the protection of high-conservation-value areas such as Raja Ampat, and we will ensure that development in this region aligns with environmental sustainability,” Ade said, as quoted by Antara.
As the government begins its field investigation into Gag Nikel’s operations, civil society groups and lawmakers are demanding greater transparency and accountability in mineral resource governance. Environmental watchdogs warn that failure to enforce regulations could set a dangerous precedent for extractive industries operating in other vulnerable regions.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
