Indonesia revokes nickel ore mining permits in Raja Ampat after protest
JAKARTA, June 10 (Reuters) - Top nickel ore producer Indonesia revoked permits for four mining firms in Raja Ampat in its easternmost region of Papua, the country's energy minister said on Tuesday, after concerns about their environmental impact sparked a public outcry.
Protests against mining in Raja Ampat, a picturesque UNESCO-designated Global Geopark known for its marine biodiversity, dominated Indonesian social media last week, with users sharing a graphic of the area's blue waters with the hashtag #SaveRajaAmpat.
Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesia's energy minister, said President Prabowo Subianto decided to revoke the permits of the four nickel companies in the area starting on Tuesday in order to protect the surrounding environment from further damage.
"We need to protect these areas by paying attention to marine life and conservation," he said.
The nickel companies are PT Nurham, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, which operate on islands in and around Raja Ampat.
The government did not grant quotas to the four companies as they failed to meet administrative requirements, Bahlil said, meaning they are currently not in production.
However the permit of another nickel miner, PT Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of state miner Aneka Tambang (Antam) (ANTM.JK), opens new tab, was not revoked as the company operates outside the designated geopark, Bahlil said.
Gag Nikel, the only company in the area in production, has a quota to mine 3 million metric tons a year. Last week, Indonesia's energy ministry temporarily halted the firm's mining activities following the protests.
The energy ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday on whether that suspension had been lifted.
Bahlil said the government would monitor its activities "exhaustively", including its regulatory practices.
Antam said last week Gag Nikel had replanted forests and conserved coral reefs.
PT Wanxiang Nickel Indonesia, the parent company of Anugerah Surya Pratama, Gag Nikel, and Kawei Sejahtera Mining did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Reuters could not immediately reach Nurham and Mulia Raymond Perkasa for comment.
The controversy flared up last week when Greenpeace activists staged a small demonstration at a mineral conference in Jakarta, citing mining activity around Raja Ampat.
Mining caused the destruction of more than 500 hectares of forest and native vegetation, as well as damaging coral reefs and marine ecosystems on some islands, Greenpeace said later in a statement.
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