Jakarta (Antara) – Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has sought an evaluation of a nickel mining site in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, and ordered the company in charge of the site to temporarily halt operations.
“We are temporarily halting their operations until the field verification (is completed),” he said at a press conference at the ministry’s office here on Thursday.
According to Lahadalia, the company can only resume operations once the verification, conducted by the ministry, is completed.
He added that the ministry will dispatch a team to the field to evaluate the actual conditions at the site.
“For now, all production activities are suspended until the verification team completes its assessment,” he informed.
Earlier, Lahadalia said that the government will summon the holders of nickel mining permits in the Raja Ampat area to evaluate their mining activities.
“We will conduct an evaluation. There will be a meeting with my director generals, and I will summon the permit holders, whether state-owned or private,” he informed after attending the Human Capital Summit here on Tuesday.
He said that some “local wisdoms and cultural values” were not considered in the mining operations.
He also acknowledged aspirations from the Papuan community for the development of a smelter in the area.
Meanwhile, Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, said that his ministry will review reports concerning nickel mining activities in Raja Ampat and did not rule out potential legal action.
“We are investigating (mining activities in) Raja Ampat. We have carried out the mapping and we will head there as soon as possible,” he said after the 2025 World Environment Day commemoration in Badung district, Bali, on Thursday.
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Translator: Maria, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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