Close Nickel Mines In Raja Ampat If Proven Violating!

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia directly inspected the PT Gag Nickel (DOK ANTARA) mine.

Member of Commission XII DPR RI Ratna Juwita Sari stated that his party plans to visit the nickel mining site in Raja Ampat, West Papua. Mining companies will be found to ensure mining operations do not damage the environment.

"I will go directly to the field to ensure that mining companies comply with environmental regulations and do not harm the community," said Ratna, Monday, June 9.

"If this is proven to have been violated, of course, we will ask the authorities to immediately close the mining operation," he said.

The East Java electoral district PKB legislator also highlighted the importance of involving academics in evaluating the environmental impact of extractive industry investments.

"The government needs to involve experts and academics to carefully calculate the ecological impacts caused, there are many green economy experts in Indonesia. Of course it will be very detrimental to the government if they make plans without involving these extremists," he said.

On the other hand, Ratna also reminded that environmental damage due to mining can cause greater economic losses. He also hopes that the government and mining companies can work together to preserve the environment and the welfare of the people around the mining area.

"Don't just use the pretext of downstreaming to ignore environmental sustainability values," said Ratna.

"The natural damage that occurs can reduce long-term economic potential, such as the fisheries tourism sector, and even contribute greatly to the damage to the ecosystem that threatens the sustainability of all living things in it," concluded the member of the commission partnering with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Previously, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia decided to temporarily suspend nickel mining operations from PT GAG Nickel in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua.

"For the time being, we will stop the operation until field verification," said Bahlil at a press conference at the Office of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Jakarta, Thursday, June 5.