Indramayu, W. Java (ANTARA) - Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq is continuing to enforce concrete measures against nickel mining in Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua province, in coordination with the National Police (Polri).“We have taken concrete steps in the field. Along with the chief of Police (General Listyo Sigit Prabowo), we continue carrying out integrated law enforcement,” he said here on Friday.
The ministry has collected samples from mining locations in Raja Ampat and brought in experts.
The steps follow the government’s decision to cancel the mining permits of four mining companies in Raja Ampat amid rising environmental concerns over mining activities on its islands.
The four companies are PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, which operates on Manuran Island; PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, located on Kawe Island; PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa on Batang Pele and Manyaifun Islands; and PT Nurham in East Waigeo.
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All of them are located within the Raja Ampat Global Geopark area. The Ministry of Environment has frozen their environmental approvals.
“Based on detailed supervision carried out by our deputy of law enforcement, there were quite serious environmental violations found. Therefore, we have to freeze them,” Nurofiq informed.
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The environmental permit revocation is being processed as it requires strong evidence.
The testing of samples taken from the mining locations in the laboratory could take several months.
Meanwhile, the mining permit for PT Gag Nikel, which has been operating in Raja Ampat since 2018, will not be revoked.
However, its nickel mining activities have been temporarily halted as of June 5, 2025, due to protests from environmental activists and the public.
