A newly released report highlights the growing threat posed by nickel mining projects to one of the planet’s most biodiverse marine regions in Indonesia, reports Ap.
Findings from satellite imagery and field investigations indicate a rapid expansion of mining areas in Raja Ampat Regency, an archipelago near West Papua, according to the environmental and conservation group Auriga Nusantara.
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Situated just a few degrees south of the equator, these islands host 75% of the world's coral species and over 1,600 species of fish, including critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles and vulnerable reef manta rays. Spanning nearly 2 million hectares (4.9 million acres), the regency includes at least nine marine protected areas and was designated a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023, acknowledging its internationally significant geological heritage.
Indonesia’s mined resources, including nickel, play a crucial role in the global supply chain for stainless steel, electric vehicle batteries, and more. However, experts warn that ongoing mining expansion— which has more than tripled in the area over the past five years— risks accelerating deforestation, polluting water sources, and disrupting the region’s delicate ecosystem.
According to Auriga Nusantara’s report, mining activity in Raja Ampat increased by approximately 494 hectares (around 1,220 acres) between 2020 and 2024— nearly three times the growth rate observed in the previous five years. In total, over 22,420 hectares (about 55,400 acres) of land in Raja Ampat have been allocated for nickel mining.
Areas where mining has commenced are marked by felled trees and exposed pits of orange-brown earth and gravel, Auriga Nusantara reported. Sediment from these mines has also been observed accumulating along the islands’ coastlines, carried away by ocean currents.
“As long as nickel mining continues, sediment runoff will destroy coral reefs and the surrounding marine ecosystem,” said Timer Manurung, Auriga Nusantara’s director. “This poses a serious threat to Raja Ampat, which is globally renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and serves as a key international tourism destination.”
Indonesia, home to the world’s largest known reserves of nickel along with significant deposits of cobalt, bauxite, and other minerals, has witnessed a mining boom driven by global demand for materials essential to stainless steel production, electric vehicle batteries, and the energy transition. The country has been expanding its mining and processing infrastructure, even as it faces criticism from both local and international watchdogs over environmental concerns.
The report identified new mining sites on at least four islands within Raja Ampat, including one located within the UNESCO Global Geopark.
Experts caution that further mining expansion in Raja Ampat could have catastrophic consequences for the region’s marine ecosystem.
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“Sedimentation— the waste runoff from land-based mining that enters the ocean— severely harms downstream marine environments,” explained Victor Nikijuluw, a programme advisor at the Indonesian environmental organisation Konservasi Indonesia, in written responses to the Associated Press.
“This sediment-laden water clouds the ocean, smothers coral reefs, drives away marine life, and threatens the biodiversity and local communities that rely on the natural environment,” he added.
With its diverse landscapes and world-class diving sites, Raja Ampat has become an increasingly popular tourist destination. In 2023, the region welcomed over 19,800 visitors— more than three times the number recorded in 2022, according to Indonesia’s Central Bureau of Statistics.
Local communities that depend on the marine environment for their livelihoods— whether through subsistence fishing or tourism-related activities— have reported a decline in water quality since mining operations began, said marine ecologist Edy Setyawan, who conducts research in Raja Ampat.
“They’ve noticed the water becoming increasingly murky,” he told AP.
The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association also voiced concerns over the expansion of nickel mining in Raja Ampat last year.
Although Indonesia’s constitutional court ruled in March 2024 that small islands require special protection from hazardous activities such as mining— due to the risk they pose to fragile ecosystems— the adverse impacts on local communities persist.
In a written response to AP in December 2024, addressing concerns about continued mining on small islands, Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources acknowledged the “critical need for rigorous environmental impact assessments and sustainable development practices” in these areas.
However, the ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding mining operations in Raja Ampat.
Likewise, the UNESCO Global Geopark declined to provide a statement to AP.
Despite the constitutional court’s ruling, Indonesia’s government continues to issue mining permits for small islands, noted Sayyidatiihayaa Afra, a researcher at the Indonesian environmental nonprofit Satya Bumi.
“The energy transition— including nickel mining— must not disregard environmental regulations,” she stated. “Otherwise, it cannot be considered either just or sustainable.”