The paradise of Raja Ampat, long admired for its unrivaled marine biodiversity, is now in the global spotlight for troubling reasons. Once praised as the “Amazon of the Seas” by the BBC, Raja Ampat is facing a growing threat from aggressive nickel mining activities that are damaging its fragile ecosystem.
Photographs of scarred forests and polluted waters on these small islands have shocked not just Indonesians but the world. Environmental organizations, researchers, and international media have joined forces in voicing concern over the destructive impact of mining on this ecological treasure.
Global Witness, a London-based international NGO that investigates environmental and human rights violations, traced the rapid expansion of mining in Raja Ampat to the rising global demand for nickel, driven by the production of electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel. The organization told the BBC that between 2020 and 2024, mining operations on several small islands in the region grew by 500 hectares—an area roughly equivalent to 700 football fields.
Several conservation groups, including Greenpeace, worry that mining companies might challenge the government’s decisions in court. They fear the ongoing legal processes could undermine hard-won protections.
On June 10, Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, announced that four out of five mining companies operating in Raja Ampat had their permits revoked. The companies are PT Anugrah Surya Pertama, PT Nurham, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, and PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining.
However, the permit for PT Gag Nikel, a state-owned nickel mining company, was not revoked. Bahlil emphasized that the government would tightly supervise PT Gag Nikel’s activities on Gag Island to prevent environmental degradation.
“Even though we didn’t revoke Gag’s permit, on the President’s orders, we will supervise its implementation closely,” Bahlil said at the Presidential Office in the Presidential Palace Complex.
This decision raised questions, especially since Gag Island is less than 2,000 square kilometers in size. According to Law No. 1 of 2014, small islands of this size are protected from mining activities. Moreover, Gag Island is part of the National Strategic Area (KSN) for Raja Ampat’s Biodiversity Conservation, as outlined in Presidential Regulation No. 81 of 2023.
The KSN designation emphasizes the area’s critical role in supporting environmental sustainability and includes parts of both Southwest Papua Province and North Maluku Province.
Mark Erdmann, a coral reef conservationist and marine ecologist who has worked in Raja Ampat for over 20 years, welcomed the government’s decision, though he noted that it did not go far enough.
“This is the global center of marine biodiversity,” Erdmann told BBC News.
He has been instrumental in creating the marine protected area network in Raja Ampat and co-founded Reshark, a shark restoration project based in the region.
“It was the voice of anger from the Indonesian people that made the government pay attention,” Erdmann added.
As the global rush for nickel accelerates, the case of Raja Ampat serves as a stark reminder of the hidden costs behind the metals used in electric vehicle batteries and other low-carbon technologies.
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A report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis confirmed that Indonesia now contributes more than half of the world’s nickel production.
The international media continues to cover this issue extensively. The UK’s Independent highlighted Raja Ampat’s status as a UNESCO Global Geopark, recognizing its significant geological value and protected status.
Major outlets like the Associated Press (AP) also reported on the Indonesian government’s decision, describing Raja Ampat as an archipelago spanning nearly 20,000 square kilometers in Southwest Papua Province.
France’s AFP echoed similar concerns, publishing the headline “Indonesia revokes most mining permits in dive hotspot after outcry.” The article focused on the difficult balance between preserving Raja Ampat’s natural beauty and satisfying the rising global demand for nickel.
This situation is far from resolved. As the world pushes for cleaner energy, the environmental price paid by vulnerable regions like Raja Ampat cannot be ignored.
