Acting President Director of PT GAG Nickel Arya Arditya said that his party fully respects and accepts the decision of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to temporarily suspend operational activities on Gag Island, Raja Ampat, until the field verification process is complete.
He said that his party understands the importance of transparency and compliance with all government regulations, especially those related to environmental protection and the welfare of the local community.
"Gag Nickel already has all operating permits and runs sustainability operations in accordance with the principles of Good Mining Practices. We are ready to submit all the supporting documents needed in the confirmation process to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources," he said, Thursday, June 5.
Arya explained that Gag Nickel also operates outside the conservation area or Geopark Unesco. The operational permit obtained by Gag Nickel is included in the Raja Ampat Mining Area in the regional spatial planning.
Arya said Gag Nickel had also coordinated intensively with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Forestry to monitor and monitor mining operations.
Since obtaining a production operation permit in 2017 and starting operations in 2018, he continued. Gag Nickel has implemented various sustainability programs, including the rehabilitation of Watersheds (DAS): From 2018 to December 2024.
"We have rehabilitated 666.6 hectares of watersheds, with 231.1 hectares of plants successfully growing and have submitted 150 hectares in the assessment process and 285 hectares in the treatment process (P2)," he continued.
Not only that, Arya explained that Gag Nickel also reclamations mining areas with reclamation land reaching 136.72 hectares (as of April 2025), with the planting of more than 350,000 trees including 70,000 endemic and local trees to accelerate ecosystem recovery.
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Furthermore, Gag also conducts coral reef conservation with a coral reef transplant covering an area of 1,000 m2 carried out in the coastal area of Raja Ampat, with quarterly monitoring by the internal team and annual supervision with the Sorong Marine and Fisheries Polytechnic, as a form of industrial and academic synergy.
Finally, Gag Nickel also monitors environmental quality. Data throughout 2024 shows that levels of SO2, NO2, PM10, and PM2.5 at pier points, mines, and pit locations remain well below the threshold. Mining waste water has stable pH (78), TSS only 527 mg/L (quality: 200 mg/L), and Chromium VI levels are recorded at 0.030.07 mg/L (limit: 0.1 mg/L). The noise level across monitoring points does not exceed 70 dBA.
"The operation of PT Gag Nickel in Raja Ampat is proof that mines and conservation can go hand in hand with the principle of responsibility," said Arya Arditya.
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