What’s Happened
On 3 September 2025, PT Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of state miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), resumed nickel mining operations on Gag Island in the Raja Ampat archipelago after being suspended earlier in the year. The suspension was part of a broader crackdown: in June, the government revoked the permits of four nickel mining companies in the region due to environmental concerns. Gag’s operations had been under scrutiny for their impact on reef health, sedimentation, dust, and community complaints. The government lifted Gag’s suspension after concluding a series of environmental audits and assessments, and giving it a “green” rating under its annual environmental monitoring regime.
Stakeholder & Environmental Concerns
Despite the government’s green rating, many environmental groups and community members remain deeply uneasy. A 2024 survey financed by Gag Nikel itself, conducted by Sorong Polytechnic Institute, recorded widespread complaints: dust affecting health, erosion and sediment flow into marine zones, damage to coral reefs, reduced fish catch distances, and other environmental and social harms. NGOs and activists argue that even enhanced monitoring and permit compliance do little to address the systemic risks of mining in such a fragile marine ecosystem. Raja Ampat is globally renowned for its biodiversity, being part of the Coral Triangle, with incredibly rich marine life, reefs, and coral species.
Regulatory Response & What’s at Stake
To respond to these concerns, the Indonesian government has imposed stricter oversight: requirements for improved settling ponds, enhanced air quality monitoring, limitations on surface runoff, stricter emissions controls, and closer multi-agency supervision (environment, marine affairs, energy ministries). However, activists say these measures may not go far enough. The project raises major LTO issues: tourism interests, conservation groups, and local livelihoods are pushing back, and global attention on environmental destruction in biodiversity hotspots adds reputational risk. The outcome in Raja Ampat may become a test case for balancing nickel supply demands (especially for EV batteries etc.) vs environmental protection, in small-island and marine ecosystems.