The pinnacles of karst island protruding from crystal clear sea seemingly mimics the tips of plethora of problems.
Appreciate to the government for revoking the IUP mining contract of 4 companies operating in the Raja Ampat (10/June/2025). Believed that this is not mere halted the field activities in the Kawei, Manuran, Batang Pele, and Waigeo Besar Islands.
But the open pit mining continues in Gag Island located 40 km by the Raja Ampat, is unfounded excuse. Further thorough re-evaluation and action needed to nips the butt of the problem.
This is not just about Raja Ampat. It is about the people, bio heritage and climate corridor at stake.
Nickel Mining
Open pit mining for nickel laterites requires vast land clearing. Cut the forest, remove the top soil, and then remove the overburden rock layers, before excavating the target nickel laterite deposits. The average grade of nickel ore generally between 1.4% and 3%. Or for every 1 ton of nickel requires at least 300 tons of rocks to be excavated. That does not include massive upper top soil, overburden removals, and vanishing habitat for biodiversity.
Why the open pit mining to the small island is prohibited by Law UU 27/2007 Clause 35 k? Small island cannot bear the burden of deforestation, soil erosion, thick sedimentation in the river and ocean, landslides, river water deterioration, coastal contamination, murky and toxic ocean water due to deep ocean tailing disposal, biodiversity loss, socio-economics problem, loss of sustenance, social adaptation & conflicts.
It is true that there is a guidance called Good Mining Practices, including site rehabilitation and remediation. But there are numerous real disastrous impacts that already occurring by the mining sites.
With such environment costs, what are our nickel benefit for? Nickel mining business currently is rather benefiting the China’s stainless-steel industry and a handful local greedy oligarch instead of the noble green, climate mitigation endeavours and equitable development.
Most of Indonesia nickel resource are the lower-grade nickel laterite deposits. This Class 2 material was used to make stainless steel. China has the technology to process for this type of ore into Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) which have 4-13% nickel content. NPI exported to China majority is for producing stainless steel.
Mysteel data (2024) reveals, domestic stainless-steel production in China consumed 77.68% of NPI. The electric battery consumes remaining small volume.
Critical Climate Corridor
Area surrounding the Raja Ampat is exceptional in many aspects. It is a part of corridor of the global climate. What we perceive as the Critical Climate Corridor (CCC), is in the central and eastern Indonesian. “Corridor”, as wide as western Europe, connecting the Pacific and the Indian oceans. A geospatial covering its ocean surface, subsea, islands, and atmosphere.
It is critical due to its complex interdependent ecosystem which have a global climate impact. Constrained and threaten by excessive mining on many islands, high carbon emission from 23 new coal-fired power generation, busy shipping, widespread population, and migration.
Many nickel mining sites and smelters are indeed right in the CCC. Raja Ampat is recognized as the UNESCO Global Geopark and a national ocean conservation area. More important is the local people whose sustenance depend on sea and this islet for centuries.
The rainforest and the deep ocean combined is a significant global carbon sink. The deep ocean area within this corridor is approx. 3 million sq.km. Absorption of carbon into the deep ocean is very significant. Ocean deep, stores 15-20 times carbon than the forest and soil, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst.
As a maritime country under equator, this corridor has the warmest sea water in the world. But, in the eastern Indonesia seas, cooling warm sea water occurs due to the mixing with cold deep ocean upwelling, phenomenon nicknamed as The Indonesia Mixmaster.
Eternal flow of the Indonesian Through Flow (ITF) current, a segment of the Global Conveyor Belt, passing here from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. And those small islands between Kalimantan and Papua, including the Raja Ampat, are positioned right in this very vital ecosystem.
No wonder that this area becomes epicentre of the world’s Coral Triangle, which host 75% of world coral species and 50% of world fish species.
This corridor is biozone bounded by the famous Wallace-Weber-Lydecker lines. The biozone is the habitat of mega biodiversity, above and below the water line.
Consider these facts. The smallest primate species on earth, the pygmy tarsier (Tarsius pumilus) is endemic to Sulawesi rainforest. Weighing less than 57 grams and 10 cm tall. This biozone is sanctuary of rare creature like Coelacanth the ‘fossil’ fish, the smallest pigmy seahorse (hippocampus satomiae), and Komodo dragon, to name a few. Banda Sea and Savu Sea, are important calving areas for pygmy blue whales. Subspecies of blue whale reaching an average length of 22 meters and weighing up to 90 tonnes.
In Papua, there are around 45 species of Cenderawasih. Some species are endemic to specific regions like Raja Ampat. In short, it is an Eldorado at the CCC.
Recommendation
As nickel mining mostly operates within the CCC, we need to propose the following.
First, to audit on environment and climate impacts regarding mining practices by interdisciplinary independent experts. Meanwhile establish a moratorium on any mining activities in the islands until the audit recommendations implemented.
Second, the government to re-evaluate overall mining activities in the CCC including but not limited to the nickel downstream program. Examine their impacts to the nation, people, environment, and Climate Change.
Forth, law enforcement to any breach of environmental criminals and corruptions, as well as jurisprudences related to mining prohibition in the small islands. Prosecute individuals and parties including but not limited to repealing any contracts that against the law, constitution, and environment.
Fifth, to appeal the international supports and pressure to guard this CCC pristine area as part of Climate Change mitigation and should be put into the agenda and funding scheme.