Kelanjutan Operasi Gag Nickel Masih Menunggu Arahan Pemerintah

JAKARTA - The new President Director of PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM), Achmad Ardianto, revealed the continuation of the fate of PT Gag Nickel whose operations were temporarily suspended by the government.

Ardianto said, as a company with the largest shareholder is the government, his party is still waiting for the government's direction regarding the continuation of mining activities in Raja Ampat Regency. Moreover, he said, PT Gag Nickel had been carrying out exploration activities for a long time.

"With the issue that yesterday developed, of course we as BUMN will always follow what the government orders," he told the media crew quoted on Friday, June 13.

He continued, even though he was the only company that escaped the revocation of the menambag permit in Raja Ampat Regency, he ensured that the company would still undergo a number of evaluations from the government. He emphasized that Gag Nickel would not be reckless in carrying out mining activities.

"We are BUMN, we are an extension of the government, we do not want and have never had the intention to carry out an operation which of course contradicts good mining rules," he stressed.

He further added, although later the government decided that there would be no operational activities that would be contrary to mining rules, Gag Nickel would continue to carry out good mining practices.

"If the government says, even though the government has said that there are no fatal things that PT Gag has done, there are only minor things that need to be improved, now we will fix it," he explained.

Previously, the Government decided to revoke four nickel mining business permits (IUP) operating in the Raja Ampat area, Southwest Papua.

Of the five permits, only PT Gag Nickel whose permits were not revoked. According to the President's direction, all mining activities of PT Gag Nickel will be closely monitored, starting from Amdal, reclamation and ensuring that it will maintain environmental sustainability.

"Although we have not revoked the Gag, we are on the orders of the President, we are specifically monitoring the implementation, so the amdal must be strict, the reclamation must be strict, must not damage coral reefs, so we will really monitor it thoroughly related to the affairs (mining) in Raja Ampat," Bahlil explained at a press conference at the State Palace in Jakarta, Tuesday, June 10.