Latest news with #Antam
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Indonesia revokes nickel ore mining permits in Raja Ampat after protest
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. - AFP JAKARTA: 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 (June 10), 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), 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 tonnes 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. - Reuters
Free Malaysia Today
05-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Indonesia allowing nickel industry abuses to go unchecked
Weda Bay on Halmahera island is the world's largest nickel mine by production. (AFP pic) JAKARTA : The Indonesian government is allowing environmental damage including deforestation and violations against Indigenous people to go unchecked around a multi-billion dollar industrial park on a once-pristine eastern island, a report said today. Indonesia is both the world's largest nickel producer, and home to the biggest-known reserves, and a 2020 export ban has spurred a domestic industrial boom. Operations have grown around Weda Bay, the world's largest nickel mine by production, on Halmahera island as Indonesia exploits the metal reserves used in everything from electric vehicle batteries to stainless steel. Climate Rights International (CRI) said companies had caused a spike in air and water pollution and deforestation around the industrial park, accusing the government of ignoring their conduct. 'The Indonesian government is giving a green light to corporate practices that prioritise profits over the rights of local communities and the environment,' Krista Shennum, researcher at Climate Rights International, told AFP. 'The Indonesian government should immediately hold companies accountable. This could include civil penalties, criminal prosecutions, or rescinding permits.' Much of the park's nickel is sourced by Weda Bay Nickel (WBN), a joint venture of Indonesian mining firm Antam and Singapore-based Strand Minerals, with shares divided between French mining giant Eramet and Chinese steel major Tsingshan. An AFP report last week detailed how the home of the nomadic Hongana Manyawa tribe was being eaten away by the world's largest nickel mine, with members issuing a call for nickel companies to leave their tribal lands alone. Locals have reported a rise in air pollution from nickel processing smelters and rivers polluted by nickel tailings in soil brought down by heavy rain. Water tests by Indonesian NGOs AEER, JATAM, and Nexus3 Foundation in 2023 and 2024 'revealed dangerously high levels of nickel and hexavalent chromium, among other pollutants', the report said. '(Companies) are failing local communities by not making information about the safety of important drinking water sources publicly available and accessible,' said Shennum. Both WBN and Eramet told AFP last week they work to minimise impacts on the environment, including conducting water tests. CRI also said Indonesian and foreign companies in coordination with police and military personnel had 'engaged in land grabbing, coercion and intimidation' of Indigenous peoples and other communities. Local activists and students opposing the industrial park have 'faced criminalisation, harassment and smear campaigns', the report said. Weda Bay Nickel and the Indonesian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Indonesia's energy ministry told AFP last week it was committed to 'protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and ensuring that mining activities do not damage their lives and environment'.
Bloomberg
21-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Indonesian State-Miner Antam Seeks $500 Million Syndicated Loan
Indonesian miner Aneka Tambang Tbk, better known as Antam, is seeking a $500 million loan, according to people familiar with the matter, in what would be the country's first syndicated dollar borrowing from a state-owned enterprise this year. United Overseas Bank is the coordinator of the five-year financing, which is equally split into a term loan and a revolving credit facility, the people said, who asked not to be named discussing private matters.
