Halmahera residents' marine space is increasingly narrowing due to nickel mining

Mineral mining around the Halmahera area, North Maluku, is increasingly putting pressure on fishermen's lives. Research is also limited.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Ruang Laut Warga Halmahera Kian Sempit akibat Tambang Nikel

KOMPAS/DANU KUSWORO

The progress of developing Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP), an integrated industrial area for processing heavy metals located in Lelilef Village, Weda District, Central Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province.

TERNATE, KOMPAS – The coastal space belonging to the community in the Halmahera Islands, North Maluku, continue to be squeezed due to nickel mining activities in the area. The space has also become narrower due to company restrictions on community activities, including fishing as well as researching the conditions around the bay. Supervision and advocacy need to be done from the local level up to the home country of the mining investor.

Oceanography researchers from Khairun Abdul Motalib University have explained that mining activities in the Kepulauan Halmahera bay area have resulted in changes to the region's landscape due to a reduction in mangrove cover, a decrease in seagrass and coral reefs. This disturbance to the marine ecosystem is because mangroves and coral reefs are habitats for fish to live and find food. The livelihood of coastal fishermen is also under pressure due to decreased fish catches.

Based on the results of spatial analysis conducted from 2011 until 2024, continuous changes have been taking place since nickel mining began to thrive, especially in Teluk Weda, Central Halmahera. In order to obtain more accurate data, spatial analysis through mapping requires direct field analysis support. However, limited access makes conducting field research difficult. Research on nickel mining activities is usually only done by teams working in cooperation with the company.

"In the future, there must be a community movement together to criticize mining that damages the environment. This movement must also be based on accurate data through research so that it can be accounted for," he said in an online discussion from Ternate, North Maluku, on Monday (12/2/2024)."

KOMPAS/DANU KUSWORO

The smelter of PT Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) located in Weda, Central Halmahera, North Maluku.

In general, there are several mining activities in several bays in North Maluku, such as Weda Bay, Buli Bay, and Kao Bay. Large mineral mining companies operate there, ranging from Weda Bay Nickel, Nusa Halmahera Mineral, to state-owned company, Aneka Tambang (Antam). In Weda Bay, there is also an integrated nickel industrial area, namely Indonesia Weda Industrial Park (IWIP).

Also read: Nickel, a double-edged sword in North Maluku

Nickel mining conducted through deforestation has the potential to damage coastal areas. Decrease of forest cover results in mud carried by rainfall in mining areas flowing into rivers and then into the ocean surrounding the bay.

Abdul explained that Teluk Weda is a semi-enclosed bay, so the current movement of water tends to be slow. As a result, mud carried from the mountains during the rainy season will stay on the coast for a longer period of time, potentially creating sedimentation and causing shallowing. This will affect the activities of the fishermen who look for fish on the coast.

"I suspect this is what will cause seagrass and coral reef ecosystems to be damaged, and fishermen's fishing grounds will be further away," he said.

Representative of the Sagea community group in North Weda, Central Halmahera, Supriyadi Sawai, explained that the ban from the company to conduct activities around the coast that is close to mining operations has also added to the difficulties faced by fishermen in the area. The back and forth of barges transporting mining materials is also disturbing fishermen while they are catching fish.

Environmental regulations have been relaxed to attract investment in the mineral sector.

He requested that the government save the living spaces of fishermen and coastal communities that are increasingly oppressed. Since the surge in post-downstreaming mining, the state has neglected the traditional rights held by these communities for ages.

"Shared sea spaces are now becoming private sea spaces. The policy of nickel downstreaming has had a negative impact on us," said the man who is also active in the Save Sagea rescue movement."

The presence of nickel mining supported by foreign investment necessitates advocacy and monitoring at the local to global level. Arief Abbas, a researcher from Indonesian Maritime Ecology (Ekomarin), explains that the government often relaxes environmental regulations to attract investment into the domestic mineral sector. Therefore, comprehensive coastal conservation advocacy and campaigns must be encouraged.

According to the research conducted by Ekomarin in 2024, Arief added that nickel mining activities in North Maluku have caused a decline in fish catchment areas for fishermen. As a result, several mining surrounding villages in Central Halmahera, which used to have abundant fishing resources, must now import fish from outside the region, such as West and South Halmahera. Coastal villages are also recorded as the areas with the largest poor population in 2022. Please note: No forbidden words in the article.

"Mining does indeed occur at a local scale, but its formation instrument comes from the desire of countries at the global level to build their electric vehicle supply chains. Strict supervision of incoming foreign investments is necessary," he said.

Also read: Fish Now "Su" Run Away, Displaced by Mines

A mineral company operating in the Halmahera region denies any pollution resulting from mining activities. Corporate Secretary Division Head of PT Antam, Syarif Faisal Alkadrie, explained that he is concerned about the condition of the fishermen and hopes that the situation improves soon. The company claims to have implemented environmental standards in mining activities, starting from monitoring the quality of water, including wastewater, to comply with existing regulations.

Meanwhile, IWIP management said that the company routinely involves accredited environmental laboratories in environmental monitoring, and regularly reports environmental conditions to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. IWIP is also building sediment ponds so that water flowing from the mine does not enter coastal waters. (Kompas, 11/7/2023)

Apart from that, at the end of 2023, the Kompas Team also visited one of the mining sites in South Halmahera, which is operated by the Harita Group. In his presentation, Head of Technical Support for Harita Group Smelter Rico Windy Albert explained that his party built a sediment pond to prevent rain runoff or mining production from flowing into the sea. New water will be released after the quality standards are the same as sea water quality standards.