DPR Urges Government To Revoke Permits For 3 Mining Companies Suspected Of Damage To Raja Ampat

The location of the nickel mine on Gag Island, Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

Member of Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Ratna Juwita Sari, assessed that the temporary suspension of all nickel mining activities belonging to PT Gag Nickel on Gag Island, Raja Ampat was the right decision.

However, he urged a number of other companies that were also operating in the Raja Ampat area to be stopped.

Moreover, continued Ratna, there were findings of violations from the Ministry of Environment (KLH) against these companies.

"I certainly appreciate the government's quick steps to stop PT Gag Nickel's operations, even though it's only temporary. But for other companies please also stop, even the permit is appropriate to be revoked based on the findings of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry," said Ratna in an official statement, Sunday, June 8.

Ratna detailed three other companies that are strongly suspected of having committed violations in Raja Ampat. First, there is PT Anugerah Surya Pratama (ASP). The company is said to have carried out mining activities on Manuran Island covering an area of 746 hectares (ha) without an environmental management system and without running wastewater treatment.

"KLH has provided a monitoring report that a pool of pools was found broken due to high rainfall. From the visual use of drones, it can be seen that the sea coast looks cloudy due to sedimentation. This is what damages Raja Ampat," he said.

Second, Ratna continued, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining (KSM), which is a nickel ore mining company founded in August 2023. The company has owned IUPs from December 30, 2013 to twenty years with a permitted area of 5,922 ha.

"But the problem is starting in 2024 starting to start mining nickel ore with a land area mined 89.29 ha. Well, the mine is outside the environmental permit and outside the PPKH area (Agreement for the Use of Forest Areas) covering an area of 5 ha on Kawe Island and has caused sedimentation on the coast to mangrove roots," he said.

Terkahir, continued Ratna, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa (MRP). He said, MRP has an IUP with a concession area of around 2,194 ha which includes Manyaifun Island and Batang Pele Island in West Waigeo District, Islands.

"But in the KLH record, PT MRP does not have PPKH. In fact, it has been explored on May 9, 2025 in the Batang Pele Island area, Raja Ampat Regency by making a total of 10 drilling coring machines for coring sampling," said Ratna.