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View all search resultsThe Jakarta Post's recent trip to Raja Ampat late last month revealed the complex currents rippling and colliding beneath the mining versus tourism issue, conflated by environmental and indigenous concerns surrounding the global marine haven in the country's far-flung, easternmost region.
A government study in 2022 estimated that a deposit of 482 million tonnes of nickel ore can be found under the calm waters of Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua. The Jakarta Post visits the archipelago to delve into a recent mining controversy that has triggered tension among residents and damaged the environment.
A government plan to revert from a triennial to an annual basis for mining work plan approvals (RKAB) has drawn mixed reactions from industry players, with some warning of increased uncertainty and red tape but others seeing a chance to boost flexibility and revenue.
Agus Hikmat, a plant conservation expert at IPB, warned that although there is no nickel mining occurring directly on Waigeo Island, the environmental impacts from mining activities elsewhere in Raja Ampat could eventually reach the island, posing a threat to the already vulnerable blue orchid.
Indonesia's mineral downstream policy needs a clear shift in strategy to escape the low-value dominance trap so that instead of being a facilitator of foreign-led extraction, the country can be a curator of complete industrial ecosystems and emerge as a leader in the global supply chain.
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