Golkar Party Supports Temporary Suspension Of Nickel Mine In Raja Ampat

JAKARTA - Secretary General of the Golkar Party DPP Muhammad Sarmuji supports the steps taken by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia to temporarily suspend nickel mining activities in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua.

He said that the decision was taken because nickel mining activities in Raja Ampat were proven to damage the environment.

"The King of Ampat is crossed by the equator and has the richest marine biodiversity in the world. This bird's head marine span is a protected area," Sarmuji said in a written statement in Jakarta, Saturday.

According to Sarmuji, the policy of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources is correct and in accordance with the mandate of Law Number 1 of 2014 concerning Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands.

He said that the law strictly prohibits mineral mining in coastal areas and small islands if it causes ecological, social, cultural damage to society.

Sarmunji explained that Raja Ampat has 4.6 million hectares of oceans covering 1,411 small islands, atolls, and betings, which surround the four main islands, namely Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool.

The chairman of the Golkar Party faction of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) also added that marine conservation and sustainable resource management in Raja Ampat are the government's top priorities.

"This area stores unique natural resources that are not found elsewhere. Therefore, the government together with related communities and institutions are committed to protecting and protecting the environment from economic greed for a moment," he said.

He said that the nickel mining permit in Raja Ampat was obtained in around 2017, when Bahlil had not yet become a member of the government cabinet. At that time, Bahlil was still the General Chair of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI).

Previously, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia at a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday (5/6), explained the origin of nickel mining in Raja Ampat.

Bahlil said there were five mining business permits (IUP) in Raja Ampat, but only one was operating, namely owned by PT GAG Nickel, which is a subsidiary of PT Antam Tbk. Meanwhile, the other four IUPs are still at the exploration stage.

He added that PT GAG Nickel's production IUP was published in 2017 and the company started operating in 2018. Before operating, PT GAG already had an analysis of environmental impacts (Amdal).

Previously, nickel mining activities in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, were revealed by Greenpeace Indonesia on Tuesday (3/6).

In a demonstration held to coincide with the holding of the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo in Jakarta, Greenpeace revealed the existence of a nickel mine that threatens Raja Ampat's marine conservation area.

Atas polemic tersebut, Bahlil mengambil langkah tegas dengan menghentikan sementara operasional mine nikel di kawasan itu.