Denpasar – The Indonesian government, through the Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, has established strict regulations for the operations of the PT Gag Nikel nickel mine in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua. This policy is implemented as a serious effort to prevent negative impacts on the environment while preserving the region’s highly vulnerable ecosystem.
One of the government’s main focuses is the management of wastewater from the mining area to prevent pollution of rivers and surrounding water sources. To this end, the government requires PT Gag Nikel to build a precise and effective settling pond system to retain rainwater discharged from the mine area.
“First and foremost, the most crucial thing is that (PT GAG Nikel) must not allow surface runoff to fall directly into rivers or water bodies, so the settling pond must be precisely designed,” said Minister Hanif.
Furthermore, the government also emphasizes the importance of controlling air emissions. The installation of air quality monitoring stations is mandatory to ensure emissions remain below the established quality standards.
“We control emission levels, so we require the installation of air quality control stations there to ensure that emissions are below quality standards,” explained Minister Hanif.
Although the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is responsible for mining operational permits, Minister Hanif emphasized the importance of synergy between ministries to maintain environmental sustainability.
“We also informed ESDM that this (Raja Ampat) is a small, rich island, but the law mandates that it (mining) be carried out. Our job is to ensure that mining operations truly mitigate potential environmental damage,” he said.
PT Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of PT Antam Tbk, temporarily suspended operations for an environmental audit. After a rigorous evaluation, the company was allowed to resume operations on September 3, 2025. Based on audit results over the past four years, PT Gag Nikel received green and blue ratings in the Company Performance Assessment Program (PROPER).
Minister Hanif added that oversight would be tightened, with environmental audits now conducted every two months, up from six months previously.
“Environmentalists are bound to be concerned, so we must balance development with the environment. Once again, we’re doing it in stages. If environmental damage occurs during any stage, it’s our responsibility and duty to stop it immediately,” he concluded.
By implementing these strict environmental standards, the government hopes that nickel mining operations in Raja Ampat can continue sustainably without damaging the existing ecosystem.
