TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is set to decide the future of a nickel mining company operating in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, after its operations were temporarily suspended following a wave of public outcry. The Presidential Palace will announce the decision this morning, Tuesday, June 10.
Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi is expected to deliver the announcement alongside Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, and Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni.
The day before, President Prabowo Subianto held a closed-door meeting with his ministers at his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Monday, June 9.
A Tempo source familiar with the meeting confirmed that it was attended by Bahlil, Hanif, and Raja Juli, and focused on the nickel mine in Raja Ampat. According to the source, Prabowo plans to shut down the mine. "Prabowo wants to stop the nickel mine," the source told Tempo on Monday.
The same source said the government's decision regarding the Raja Ampat mine would be announced from the Palace on Tuesday morning, with the statement to be delivered by the Minister of State Secretary.
Mining activities in Raja Ampat drew widespread attention after Greenpeace Indonesia and the Jaga Alam Raja Ampat Alliance lodged strong protests. They declare that nickel mining on five small islands, namely Gag, Kawe, Manuran, Manyaifun, and Batang Pele, is a violation of Law No. 1 of 2014 on Coastal and Small Island Management, which bans mining activities on ecologically sensitive small islands.
Greenpeace's analysis stated that over 500 hectares of forest have been damaged due to mining and sedimentation. The operations also threaten coral reefs and marine life. A video released by Greenpeace shows land clearing in the middle of one island, believed to be an active mining site.
Bahlil stated that PT GAG Nikel's operations in Raja Ampat do not fall within a conservation zone. He explained the mine is located on Gag Island, about 30 to 40 kilometers from Piaynemo, a major tourist destination in Raja Ampat.
"Many are saying that the mine is in Piaynemo, but that's incorrect. It's on Gag Island, which is quite far. I know because I visit Raja Ampat often," Bahlil said in a written statement on Friday, June 6.
The minister decided to halt PT GAG Nikel's operations temporarily starting Thursday, June 5, pending an on-site verification. "For now, we're suspending activities until we can inspect the conditions on the ground," Bahlil said.
Nandito Putra and Hendrik Yaputra contributed for this article.
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