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[First hand information] 2 hours agoNickel is an indispensable part of life, used in stainless steel, mobile phones, and electric vehicle batteries. As the world shifts towards more environmentally friendly cars, it is expected that the demand for metals will increase significantly

[First hand information] 2 hours ago

Nickel is an indispensable part of life, used in stainless steel, mobile phones, and electric vehicle batteries. As the world shifts towards more environmentally friendly cars, it is expected that the demand for metals will increase significantly. But environmentalists warn that mining nickel in Indonesia, the world's largest nickel producer, may have a destructive impact on the environment.

This is a night on Labengki Island in the southeast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. We followed two people holding torches and homemade arrows. They dive into the sea to catch fish, lobsters, and sea cucumbers. On nights when the fish are not very active, other prey harvest better.

These people come from the Bajau indigenous community, which is famous for Freediving and hunters. But they are worried that their traditional way of life is running out of time.

Now, the water is still clear, "said one of the fishermen, Tawing. But it won't always be like this... Nickel waste enters the water during the rainy season, and ocean currents bring it here

He warned that if the government does not take action, the waste generated by nickel mines will eventually flow into the sea, harming the island and surrounding marine life.

Indonesia and Australia have the largest nickel reserves in the world. The International Energy Agency predicts that as we switch to electric vehicles, we need more rechargeable batteries. By 2030, the demand for nickel will increase by at least 65%.

Some institutions predict that Indonesia will meet two-thirds of global copper demand, and the country has signed agreements worth billions of dollars with international companies eager to invest in its processing plants and mines.

According to data from the Indonesian government, there are currently about 50 nickel mining companies operating in the North Konawe Regency, which is separated by water from the island of Rabenki.

Fisherman Tawing and the aquatic products he catches.

It takes about an hour to get there by boat. As we approached, the green hills were replaced by brown, deforested forests. Excavators and barges can be seen excavating and transporting 'new gold'. The water under our feet is reddish brown.

In the coastal village of Boenaga, we met another Bajo fisherman, Lukman, who said he could no longer fish near his home.

When we dive into the water, we can't see anything, "he said, pointing to the brown seawater behind the house. It may hit a stone, "he said, as the cost of fuel prevented him from going further to fish. If they were to make a fuss about it, the police would eventually intervene.

In order to extract nickel, large areas of trees were cut down and the land was excavated into open pits. Due to the fact that the roots of trees no longer exist and cannot stabilize the ground, the soil is more likely to be washed away during rain.

According to government data, there will be at least 21 floods and mudslides in the southeast of Sulawesi Island in 2022. According to data from Japan's National Disaster Response Agency, there were only two to three incidents per year between 2005 and 2008 before the expansion of mining scope.

Chemicals such as Sodium cyanide and diesel can also be used for mining. This worried local environmentalist Habib Nadjar Buduha. He said that if waste and water are not properly managed, sediment will eventually flow into the sea.

He showed me a video he filmed about 10 miles off the coast of Bahubulu Island, showing a coral reef that had been 'suffocated' by sediment.

Lukman, a Baqiao fisherman.

He was worried that the same thing would happen on Labenki Island, so he established an organization to protect giant clams in 2009. They will never be able to overcome nickel pollution, "he said.

Sediments will bury and destroy them

Individual nickel mining companies near Bonaga did not respond to our request for comment, but we spoke with the Indonesian Nickel Miners Association - approximately half of the North Konavi mining companies are members of the association.

Secretary General Meidy Katrin said that in order to obtain a permit, companies must agree to reforestate or reclaim land after mining is completed.

She said, "The question is, have these companies done this?" She admitted that some of the exposed land has not been reforested. But she said it may not be the fault of licensed companies: "There are also many Illegal mining activities in this area."

She believes that the government has a responsibility to inspect miners, ensure that they comply with regulations, and ensure that what they write in the report is consistent with reality.

Environmentalists warn that sediment can cover coral reefs and suffocate them.

The head of Bonaga village, Jufri Asri, has a different view of things from Lukman and Habib. He believes that these mines have brought benefits to the community. Taking the price of fish as an example, "he said," I don't bring fish to the city to sell because the prices here are higher. These companies also need fish

His 21-year-old son works at a nearby nickel mining company, and like other families in Bonaga, they receive at least $70 in compensation from mining every month.

Financial agreements are common and aim to offset the inconvenience caused by mining activities and heavy vehicles passing through residences while commuting to and from mines. Juffrey pointed out that if nickel production increases, their compensation will also increase.

In the capital Jakarta, we met Novita Indri, an activist of TrendAsia, a non-governmental organization promoting sustainable development. She accused the authorities of being "too weak" - she hopes to see higher environmental standards and stricter regulation.

We don't have a record of sustainable mining yet, "Indri said. Indonesia still has a lot of work to do, including strengthening law enforcement, improving emission standards, and implementing environmental regulations

When we raised this issue with Professor Irwandy Arif, a consultant to the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), he told us that the government is concerned about the "impact of mining activities on coastal sedimentation", not just in this region, but throughout Indonesia.

However, he believes that the pollution is caused by illegal nickel mines, not licensed companies.

He insists that the regulations mean that legal operators have appropriate water management systems to ensure that no Dangerous goods flow into the sea. He does not believe that operators will ignore these rules and risk losing their licenses.

Even if regulations are followed, mining can have a significant impact on the landscape.

But Professor Arif admits that in illegal mines without treatment systems, "the soil will only be eroded.

He told us that anyone who does not comply with the regulations is prohibited from selling nickel, and two illegal miners have been taken to the court in North Konavi County - the area where Bonaga is located.

But Professor Arif acknowledges that regulation needs improvement. "Illegal mining is everywhere in Indonesia," he said.

He said, "So far, we have not properly regulated it... We need to determine which is legal and which is illegal in order to minimize the damage to the environment

He pointed out that in order to improve the situation, the Government had recently set up a national working group on Illegal mining.

But many Baqiao people we have interviewed say that the pace of change is not fast enough. Natural resource conservationist Habib warned that if things continue like this, the damage may be irreversible.

They are destroying our future, "he said.

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