TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Director General of Minerals and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Tri Winarno, has stated that the mining activities of PT GAG Nikel show no indications of violations. He affirmed that the operations of the PT Aneka Tambang Tbk or Antam's subsidiary on Gag Island, Raja Ampat Regency, comply with regulations and are not causing sedimentation in the coastal area.
"We observed directly from the air; there is no sedimentation. Overall, this mine is not problematic," Tri said during his visit to the nickel mine location, as quoted from a written statement on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
Nevertheless, Tri noted that the ESDM Ministry would still deploy Mine Inspectors to evaluate several Mining Business License Areas in Raja Ampat. The results of these inspections will inform further decisions. Tri also mentioned that reclamation at the mine site is progressing well, though the final decision awaits a comprehensive report from the Mine Inspector team.
Currently, five mining companies hold permits in Raja Ampat Regency. Tri specified that among these, only PT GAG Nikel is actively producing nickel under a Contract of Work permit. This company is registered in the Mineral One Data Indonesia application with licensing number 430.K/30/DJB/2017 and holds a permit for an area of 13,136 hectares.
On June 5, 2025, ESDM Minister Bahlil Lahadalia temporarily halted PT GAG Nikel's mining activities in response to public reports concerning the potential impact of mining on the Raja Ampat tourist area.
Criticism has also come from Greenpeace Indonesia. The organization's investigation showed that mining on three islands in Raja Ampat, namely Gag, Kawe, and Manuran, has damaged over 500 hectares of forest. Additionally, they found that soil runoff from the mine is flowing into the sea.
Kiki Taufik, Head of the Forest Campaign at Greenpeace, noted that two other islands in Raja Ampat, Batang Pele and Manyaifun, are also being monitored as potential nickel exploitation sites. However, he emphasized that small islands should be protected from mining activities in accordance with Law No. 1 of 2014 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands.
Resistance is also mounting from the Raja Ampat Nature Conservation Alliance, which opposes the expansion of mining on Batang Pele and Manyaifun Islands due to their proximity to conservation areas. Yoppy L. Mambrasar, coordinator of the alliance, said that Raja Ampat's tourism landscape is increasingly threatened by mining because the government has failed to protect small islands from extractive industries.
Yoppy stressed that mining on small islands violates various environmental regulations, including Constitutional Court Decision No. 35/PUU-XXI/2023. He warned that if nickel mining is allowed to continue, environmental damage will worsen and harm future generations. "We do not reject development, but we want fair and environmentally friendly development that benefits the people," said Yoppy.
Annisa Febiola contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor's Choice: Here Are Greenpeace's Highlights on the Impact of Nickel Mining in Raja Ampat
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