JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia visited the nickel mine PT Gag Nickel on Gag Island, Raja Ampat Regency, on Saturday, June 7. This short visit aims to see the situation of mining operations and follow up on public unrest over the impact of mining on tourist areas in Raja Ampat.
"I just came here to check directly with the whole community, and my friends have seen it and I also saw objectively what really happened and the results will be checked by my team (mining inspectors)," he said in a statement to the media, Saturday, June 7.
On the same occasion, the Director General of Mineral and Coal (Minerba) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Tri Winarno, said that there were no problems in the mining area.
"We also saw from above that there was no sedimentation in the coastal area either. So this overall actually has no problem with this mine," said Tri.
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However, Tri has dispatched a team of Mining Inspectors, to conduct inspections in several Mining Business Permit Areas (WIUP) in Raja Ampat and evaluate thoroughly to then provide recommendations to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to carry out the execution of their decisions.
"If it's overall, the reclamation here is quite good too, but later we will still report from the Mining Inspector what it will be like, then later we will get the results of the evaluation that we will do from the report of the Mining Inspector and then we will execute what it will be like later," he said.
Meanwhile, Director of Business Development of PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), I Dewa Wirantaya said that PT Gag Nickel, as a subsidiary of PT. Antam, must carry out good mining practices, by complying with technical procedures, the environment, and regulations that apply to the management of mining areas on Gag Island.
"As we witnessed together, all stakeholders can see here that we are carrying out reclamation, retaining the overflow of mines and so on. Of course, our hope is that the presence of PT Gag Nickel here can provide added value, apart from being a business entity, as a BUMN, we as an agent of development provide added value for stakeholders, especially the people in this Gag Island," he explained.
The results of the field evaluation revealed that there were five companies running mining businesses in Raja Ampat Regency, namely PT Gag Nickel, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Mulia Raymond, and PT Nurham.
Of the five companies, PT Gag Nickel is the only one who is currently actively producing nickel and has the status of a Work Contract (KK). This company is registered in the Mineral One Data Indonesia (MODI) application with Licensing Certificate Number 430.K/30/DJB/2017, and has a permit area of 13,136.00 hectares.
In addition, PT Gag Nickel is included in 13 companies that are allowed to continue mining work contracts in the Forest Area until the end of permits / agreements based on Presidential Decree 41/2004 regarding Licensing or Agreements in the Mining Sector in Forest Areas.
To note, on June 5, 2025, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources temporarily suspended the operation of PT Gag Nickel on Gag Island, Raja Ampat Regency. This was done to follow up on public complaints regarding the impact of mining on tourist areas in Raja Ampat.
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