Raja Ampat – The central government together with the West Papua Provincial Government continue to encourage mining management in the Raja Ampat region to be carried out in an environmentally friendly manner. This step was taken in response to concerns from the community and environmental activists regarding the impact of nickel mining on the marine ecosystem and the world-famous Raja Ampat tourism.
The Director General of Minerals and Coal (Dirjen Minerba) ESDM, Tri Winarno, emphasized that mining management takes into account the sustainability of Raja Ampat’s nature.
“A thorough and objective evaluation of all mining permits is essential. The natural beauty of Raja Ampat is a national and international asset that must not be sacrificed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Director of Business Development of PT. Aneka Tambang (Antam), I Dewa Wirantaya said, PT GAG Nikel as a subsidiary of Antam is required to implement good mining practice. Namely by complying with technical procedures, the environment, and regulations applicable to the management of mining areas on Gag Island.
“As we witness together, all stakeholders can see here that we are complying with reclamation, retaining mine overflow water and so on,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Southwest Papua Elisa Kambu emphasized the importance of balancing mining investment and environmental conservation. Her party opened a dialogue space with business actors, communities, and environmentalists to find the best solution.
“Raja Ampat’s nature is a legacy for our children and grandchildren. No investment should damage the environment. We encourage an environmentally friendly mining model that involves indigenous communities,” he said.
As a concrete step, the government has temporarily stopped mining activities on several sensitive islands, including Gag Island. In addition, the process of revising and strengthening the AMDAL is underway so that all mining activities meet strict environmental standards.
Current cross-ministerial coordination is focused on developing a sustainable mining management scheme. This includes the application of green technology, optimal post-mining reclamation, and strict supervision of logistics routes. The government is also encouraging the participation of indigenous communities in mining supervision.
These steps are expected to maintain the ecological superiority of Raja Ampat, while ensuring that the economic benefits of mining are truly felt by the local community.
