Battle to save Indonesian 'paradise' as nickel industry expands into Raja Ampat in Papua
With its crystal-clear waters and picturesque islands, Raja Ampat — often described as "the last paradise on Earth" — has long been a dream destination for tourists.
But this archipelago off Indonesia's east coast has emerged as the latest battleground between groups at odds over the country's nickel industry.
For Indigenous Papuan man Matias Mambraku, Raja Ampat, or the "Four Kings", is more than just a paradise.
"It's so important not only because of its beauty, but [because] it provides us a livelihood," Mr Mambraku told the ABC.
"Many of us here are fishermen, so we really depend on the water, it can fulfil our everyday needs."
The archipelago of 1,500 islands, cays and atolls are a UNESCO Global Geopark because of the historic limestone karst rock formations that jut out of the sea.
The area is also home to some of the most diverse marine life on earth, said Australian conservationist Lynn Lawrence.
With the organisation that she founded with her husband, The Sea People, Ms Lawrence has been trying to restore and protect Raja Ampat for more than a decade.
She said over 75 per cent of the world's known hard-coral species, 1,800 reef fish and five endangered turtle species are among the significant sea life here.
However, conservationists said the archipelago's delicate ecosystem is being sacrificed to support Indonesia's burgeoning renewable energy industry.
Indonesia is the biggest refiner of nickel in the world.
Over the past decade the rapid expansion of the industry — to support the electric vehicle and green energy transition — has created opportunities for some while leaving others struggling to get by.
Ms Lawrence does not agree with calling Raja Ampat "the last paradise" on earth.
"Raja Ampat doesn't need to be admired for what it still has; it needs to be protected for what it still gives," she said.
Greenpeace Indonesia has been campaigning to protect Raja Ampat and released an investigation into nickel mining in the area earlier this month.
The report revealed nickel mines are responsible for least 550 hectares of deforestation across three islands: Manuran Island, Gag Island, and Kawe Island.
"Forests have been destroyed, and rainwater runoff now carries sediment from the cleared areas," Greenpeace said in its report.
"This is causing reef-smothering elevated turbidity in the sea, evident as discolouration of water near jetties and mines."
Shortly before the Greenpeace research was released, the Indonesian government revoked four of the five active licences within the UNESCO geopark.
The government's decision came after a national outcry over nickel mining in Raja Ampat, and in response to a popular social media campaign, "#SaveRajaAmpat".
Indonesia's mines minster, Bahlil Lahadila, said at the time the decision to revoke the mining permits was due to "environmental violations" within the UNESCO geopark.
The one remaining permit not revoked by the government is on Gag Island.
It's held by Gag Nickel, a subsidiary of the Indonesian state-owned mining company Aneka Tambang, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Arie Rompas from Greenpeace Indonesia urged the government to revoke the Gag Nickel permit.
"There must be a formal decision to ensure that the revocation is actually carried out," Mr Rompas told ABC.
He warned the government had reactivated mining permits it had revoked in the past.
The ABC contacted Gag Nickel, Aneka Tambang and multiple Indonesian government ministries but did not receive a response.
Gag Island is about 43 kilometres from Piaynemo — a famous cluster of karst formations that feature on an Indonesian bank note.
Global Forest Watch reported that between 2017 and 2024, deforestation caused by nickel mining on Gag Island reached 262 hectares.
Nickel ore mined on Gag Island is loaded onto barges and transported to be refined at the Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) on Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Greenpeace said.
According to public reports from Aneka Tambang, Gag Nickel's parent company, ore from Gag Nickel is processed by Tsingshan, a large Chinese-run subsidiary operating within IWIP.
IWIP is an integrated mineral industrial complex backed by investment from three huge Chinese companies, which have proliferated since former Indonesian president Joko Widodo first banned the export of unprocessed minerals in 2014.
The ban "ushered in a new era of growth and prosperity for the people of Indonesia," the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce Madam Chairperson, Arsjad Rasjid, told the ABC in 2023.
But a study from Indonesian not-for-profit organisation Nexus3 and Tadulako University on the pollution around IWIP showed alarming results.
Published in May, the study results are based on tests run on water, blood and fish samples taken around Weda Bay in July 2024.
Water samples from the main river which serves as drinking sources had high concentrations of heavy metals, including chromium and nickel, that exceeded safe limits set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
Blood samples taken from residents living near IWIP recorded the presence of heavy metals like mercury — and arsenic at levels exceeding safe thresholds in 15 people.
Nexus3 principal researcher Yuyun Ismawati said, apart from inhaling pollutants, heavy metals detected in blood came from eating contaminated fish.
The study found that fish caught in Weda Bay contained elevated levels of arsenic and mercury.
Ms Ismawati said the arsenic levels in fish surpassed national safe thresholds and posed a serious risk to people who live in the area and ate them.
"The fish samples were taken at the fish landing site, directly from the fishermen's boats — these are the same fish sold at the market," she said.
"We collected fish from there because that's what local residents consume daily.
Rivani Abdurrajak, head of the local government environmental agency, disputed the findings of the Nexus3 research, local media reported in early June.
Mr Abdurrajak told Kompas the water in Weda Bay was not polluted by nickel mining or processing, and government tests showed levels of heavy metals, including arsenic and mercury, at safe levels.
Ms Ismawati said that the "cocktail of toxic pollutants" around industrial parks like IWIP were difficult to measure.
"Inside these zones, there are various smelters — not just for nickel, but also for aluminium and other metals, even in small quantities, so even if we could take some samples, there are no standard benchmarks to measure these chemical cocktails," she added.
IWIP has been contacted for comment.
The pollution around IWIP and other major nickel processing parks has acted as a warning to conservations and locals campaigning to defend Raja Ampat from a similar fate.
While Indigenous Papuans in Raja Ampat depend on the sea for their survival, the archipelago holds a greater significance for locals.
"Raja Ampat's value is inseparable from the people who live in, depend on, and actively shape it," Ms Lawrence said.
Mr Mambraku lives in a village near one of the nickel mines which had its permit revoked.
He said he hoped the Indonesian government would ensure that any kind of future activities in Raja Ampat followed environmental safeguards and included Indigenous people in decision making.
"It's so important not only because of its beauty but it provides us livelihood," Mr Mambraku said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Battle to save Indonesian 'paradise' as nickel industry expands into Raja Ampat in Papua
With its crystal-clear waters and picturesque islands, Raja Ampat — often described as "the last paradise on Earth" — has long been a dream destination for tourists. But this archipelago off Indonesia's east coast has emerged as the latest battleground between groups at odds over the country's nickel industry. For Indigenous Papuan man Matias Mambraku, Raja Ampat, or the "Four Kings", is more than just a paradise. "It's so important not only because of its beauty, but [because] it provides us a livelihood," Mr Mambraku told the ABC. "Many of us here are fishermen, so we really depend on the water, it can fulfil our everyday needs." The archipelago of 1,500 islands, cays and atolls are a UNESCO Global Geopark because of the historic limestone karst rock formations that jut out of the sea. The area is also home to some of the most diverse marine life on earth, said Australian conservationist Lynn Lawrence. With the organisation that she founded with her husband, The Sea People, Ms Lawrence has been trying to restore and protect Raja Ampat for more than a decade. She said over 75 per cent of the world's known hard-coral species, 1,800 reef fish and five endangered turtle species are among the significant sea life here. However, conservationists said the archipelago's delicate ecosystem is being sacrificed to support Indonesia's burgeoning renewable energy industry. Indonesia is the biggest refiner of nickel in the world. Over the past decade the rapid expansion of the industry — to support the electric vehicle and green energy transition — has created opportunities for some while leaving others struggling to get by. Ms Lawrence does not agree with calling Raja Ampat "the last paradise" on earth. "Raja Ampat doesn't need to be admired for what it still has; it needs to be protected for what it still gives," she said. Greenpeace Indonesia has been campaigning to protect Raja Ampat and released an investigation into nickel mining in the area earlier this month. The report revealed nickel mines are responsible for least 550 hectares of deforestation across three islands: Manuran Island, Gag Island, and Kawe Island. "Forests have been destroyed, and rainwater runoff now carries sediment from the cleared areas," Greenpeace said in its report. "This is causing reef-smothering elevated turbidity in the sea, evident as discolouration of water near jetties and mines." Shortly before the Greenpeace research was released, the Indonesian government revoked four of the five active licences within the UNESCO geopark. The government's decision came after a national outcry over nickel mining in Raja Ampat, and in response to a popular social media campaign, "#SaveRajaAmpat". Indonesia's mines minster, Bahlil Lahadila, said at the time the decision to revoke the mining permits was due to "environmental violations" within the UNESCO geopark. The one remaining permit not revoked by the government is on Gag Island. It's held by Gag Nickel, a subsidiary of the Indonesian state-owned mining company Aneka Tambang, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Arie Rompas from Greenpeace Indonesia urged the government to revoke the Gag Nickel permit. "There must be a formal decision to ensure that the revocation is actually carried out," Mr Rompas told ABC. He warned the government had reactivated mining permits it had revoked in the past. The ABC contacted Gag Nickel, Aneka Tambang and multiple Indonesian government ministries but did not receive a response. Gag Island is about 43 kilometres from Piaynemo — a famous cluster of karst formations that feature on an Indonesian bank note. Global Forest Watch reported that between 2017 and 2024, deforestation caused by nickel mining on Gag Island reached 262 hectares. Nickel ore mined on Gag Island is loaded onto barges and transported to be refined at the Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) on Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Greenpeace said. According to public reports from Aneka Tambang, Gag Nickel's parent company, ore from Gag Nickel is processed by Tsingshan, a large Chinese-run subsidiary operating within IWIP. IWIP is an integrated mineral industrial complex backed by investment from three huge Chinese companies, which have proliferated since former Indonesian president Joko Widodo first banned the export of unprocessed minerals in 2014. The ban "ushered in a new era of growth and prosperity for the people of Indonesia," the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce Madam Chairperson, Arsjad Rasjid, told the ABC in 2023. But a study from Indonesian not-for-profit organisation Nexus3 and Tadulako University on the pollution around IWIP showed alarming results. Published in May, the study results are based on tests run on water, blood and fish samples taken around Weda Bay in July 2024. Water samples from the main river which serves as drinking sources had high concentrations of heavy metals, including chromium and nickel, that exceeded safe limits set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Blood samples taken from residents living near IWIP recorded the presence of heavy metals like mercury — and arsenic at levels exceeding safe thresholds in 15 people. Nexus3 principal researcher Yuyun Ismawati said, apart from inhaling pollutants, heavy metals detected in blood came from eating contaminated fish. The study found that fish caught in Weda Bay contained elevated levels of arsenic and mercury. Ms Ismawati said the arsenic levels in fish surpassed national safe thresholds and posed a serious risk to people who live in the area and ate them. "The fish samples were taken at the fish landing site, directly from the fishermen's boats — these are the same fish sold at the market," she said. "We collected fish from there because that's what local residents consume daily. Rivani Abdurrajak, head of the local government environmental agency, disputed the findings of the Nexus3 research, local media reported in early June. Mr Abdurrajak told Kompas the water in Weda Bay was not polluted by nickel mining or processing, and government tests showed levels of heavy metals, including arsenic and mercury, at safe levels. Ms Ismawati said that the "cocktail of toxic pollutants" around industrial parks like IWIP were difficult to measure. "Inside these zones, there are various smelters — not just for nickel, but also for aluminium and other metals, even in small quantities, so even if we could take some samples, there are no standard benchmarks to measure these chemical cocktails," she added. IWIP has been contacted for comment. The pollution around IWIP and other major nickel processing parks has acted as a warning to conservations and locals campaigning to defend Raja Ampat from a similar fate. While Indigenous Papuans in Raja Ampat depend on the sea for their survival, the archipelago holds a greater significance for locals. "Raja Ampat's value is inseparable from the people who live in, depend on, and actively shape it," Ms Lawrence said. Mr Mambraku lives in a village near one of the nickel mines which had its permit revoked. He said he hoped the Indonesian government would ensure that any kind of future activities in Raja Ampat followed environmental safeguards and included Indigenous people in decision making. "It's so important not only because of its beauty but it provides us livelihood," Mr Mambraku said.
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Australians in Bali during 2017 volcano eruption warn others to take out travel insurance
Brisbane woman Teresa was excited about her girls' trip to Bali in 2017. Her group even extended their trip to enjoy the Indonesian holiday island a little longer. But when the time came to fly home, Bali's Mount Agung threw their plans into chaos. The volcano erupted in November of that year, causing some 150,000 residents to evacuate from their homes nearby. Bali's busy Denpasar airport was also closed due to ash fall from the mountain. "The whole thing was a debacle," said Teresa, who is again in Bali for a holiday. She told the ABC she was "experiencing deja vu". Bali airport has reopened following this week's eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the nearby island of Flores, but holiday-makers are warned that disruptions may continue. But Teresa, who only wants to be identified by her first name, said this time she didn't make the same mistake as in 2017 — not taking out travel insurance. During the previous trip, only one of Teresa's friends had travel insurance. "She was able to get a Singapore Airlines flight out quickly, about three days after the eruption," she said. "One friend was flown to Sydney where the airport was closed at the time and there was no accommodation available. It was a similar story for another one of her friends, who was flying home to Perth but had to stay overnight in Darwin. "The airport there was closed at night. She sat on her suitcase until the next morning," she said. For Teresa, it took just over a week to leave Bali — and even then it wasn't a direct trip home. "I had to fly to Melbourne first, then I got put into a run-down motel the airline had booked for the passengers," she said. Indonesia's transport ministry said some 14,000 travellers had been affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki. They said despite the airport returning to normal operations, a backlog of passengers was expected to take some time to clear. A number of flights between capital cities and Bali scheduled for Wednesday morning were cancelled after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted on Tuesday evening. Others slated for Wednesday evening were delayed for hours. Indonesian authorities raised the volcanic alert to the highest level and two villages were evacuated. Denpasar airport operators said in a statement on Wednesday that 87 flights were affected by the eruption — 66 international and 21 domestic. The international flights affected included legs to and from Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Perth, Sydney, Singapore, Auckland, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City. Andrew was in the Indonesian city of Bandung during Mount Agung's eruption in 2017. He said unlike Teresa's experience, having travel insurance covered the cost of his cancelled flight and accommodation. "My flight from Bandung to Bali was cancelled, so I had to stay a few extra days until a flight was available," he told the ABC. Andrew managed to get a flight to Lombok, where he stayed overnight. The next morning, he caught a boat to Bali, where he now lives. "My travel insurance covered everything," he said. These experiences reiterate how travel insurance is "essential protection" for holidays, said CHOICE insurance expert Jodi Bird. "The volcano affecting travel to Bali is a perfect example. If you bought your travel insurance in time, it will help you with the cost of cancelling or rescheduling your holiday," Mr Bird told the ABC. Mr Bird said in order to be covered for natural disasters, you need to buy travel insurance before the incident becomes "a known event". Otherwise, it could be too late. An event becomes "known" when it is publicised in the media, or official government websites, like the government's Smartraveller. "For a major event, like the Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, many insurers will publish advice on their website about when you needed to buy the policy to be covered," Mr Bird said. However, he said some insurers have cut off cover in the last few days: "The trick is to know your destination and buy travel insurance when you book your trip." Travel insurance can be purchased from a direct insurance company, or through travel agencies like Webjet and Flight Centre. In other cases, some credit card providers offer complimentary travel insurance as a perk. When choosing a policy, it is important to understand the coverage and exclusions.
ABC News
4 days ago
- ABC News
Flights to Indonesia's Bali resume after disruption by volcano eruption
All flights to and from the Indonesian resort island of Bali resumed on Thursday after being cancelled or delayed due to eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, officials said. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted on Tuesday, spewing ash 11 kilometres high. Eighty-seven flights to and from Bali, consisting of 66 international and 21 domestic flights, were affected on Wednesday by the eruption, the Bali airport operator said in a statement. These included connections to Australia, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia. On Thursday, flights from Bali departed on schedule to Australia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and China, Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, an official at Bali airport, said in a statement. These flights were operated by airlines including Malaysia Airlines, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines, Mr Asmadi added. "Until now, all the operations have been running smoothly, both departures and arrivals," Mr Asmadi said. Flights operated by Qantas and its low-cost carrier Jetstar were scheduled to operate as normal on Thursday, the company said. A number of flights operated by AirAsia Malaysia and AirAsia Indonesia to and from Bali, Lombok and Labuan Bajo, which were cancelled since Wednesday, have also resumed, the airline said. Two airports in East Nusa Tenggara province reopened on Thursday after being temporarily closed on Wednesday. However, authorities extended the closure of Fransiskus Xaverius Seda airport in Maumere until Friday as there was still some volcanic ash in the air posing a risk to flights, the airport's operator said in a post on social media. Dozens of residents living in three villages nearest to the volcano have been evacuated, the local disaster mitigation agency said. According to Indonesia's volcanology agency, Lewotobi has erupted 427 times this year. Tuesday's eruption is the largest since November last year when it erupted several times, and killed at least nine people. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates.
