Waste “puddle” on the edge of Bahodopi

The Bahodopi coast is like a giant puddle that leaves people suffering. The water is polluted, the fish are disappearing.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in ”Kubangan” Limbah di Tepi Bahodopi

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Fishermen parked their boats in the murky sea on the coast of Bete-Bete Village, Bahodopi, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday (8/2/2024).

In the orange-tinted sea tainted by waste, the coastal community of Bahodopi once relied on it for their livelihood. The water now poses a great dilemma for its inhabitants, as they must decide between surviving on polluted waters or leaving their homes.

After docking his motorboat, Syawaluddin (47) walked wearily to his relative's house in Bete-bete Village, Bahodopi, Morowali, Central Sulawesi. He carried two bags of supplies for his fishing trip. The scorching sun beat down on Thursday (8/2/2024). The sunlight reflected on the murky seawater, resembling a pile of nickel ore.

"Today, I received 1 kilogram of juvenile fish, sold for Rp 25,000. However, buying fuel costs Rp 30,000, so I am at a loss of Rp 5,000," said the father of six children.

Syawal, his nickname, was born and raised there. In the past, Bete-Bete Village was so beautiful. Green hills spread out, beside a beautiful beach. Fertile land and clear seawater complete the various needs of the residents' lives. They never lacked anything.

In mid-2010, nickel mining started to enter the area. Syawal was initially involved in the exploration phase. However, he has recently noticed that the mountains are being opened up and trees are being cut down. A sense of worry immediately struck him.

Five years have passed and the changes are increasingly significant. Thousands of people have arrived. Giant-sized barges dock in the sea. The land in the area continues to be cleared. The river is becoming murky and the sea is turning red.

Also read: The Sorrowful Fate of Workers in the Glittering Downstream of Morowali

The catch of fish continues to decrease. He mentioned that in the past, with just a boat around the house, he could catch 5 kilograms of fish. Now, the results are lacking and the fish are contaminated by waste. "Now we don't dare to take fish near here. The fish are already unhealthy."

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Fish traders sell their goods on the coast of Bete-Bete Village, Bahodopi, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday (8/2/2024).

In 2019, there was a massive demonstration by citizens regarding the impact of mining. However, this action resulted in the arrest of village officials and a number of residents.

We are now afraid to catch fish around here. The fish are no longer healthy.

Now, there are only a few plots of land left for the people. Whether they like it or not, their only source of livelihood now depends on the sea. The problem is that the results are no longer worth it. Every day, he has to go far out to sea, using up more than two liters of fuel. "The important thing is to be outside those large ships that are parked there," he said as he pointed to a dozen barges and tankers anchored in the sea. "Right now, we're just trying to survive or move."

Haslan (34) said that the residents around Bahodopi are facing similar situations, being trapped from various sides. Many mines and the giant industrial area IMIP are located in the hills. The air is getting more and more polluted, especially for those living near the area.

The situation in the waters is worsening over time. The sea turns red when it rains and there are no more fish on the coast, forcing the fishermen to go further out to sea. This poses risks, as the cost becomes higher and the time spent is longer.

Also read: The Flood of Nickel Products and Downstream Disorientation

This situation has led the father of three children to start thinking about finding a place to live further away. "If we want to move, we need a considerable amount of money. The problem is, it's already difficult to survive here," said Haslan.

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Residents point to a drainage channel owned by the Indonesian company Morowali Industrial Park in Fatufai village, Bahodopi, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Tuesday (6/2/2024).

A worse situation is occurring in Kurisa Sea, Fatufai Village. This area is one of the villages that is very close to the industrial estate. Fishermen who survive on the coast are starting to switch to odd jobs. Some of them pick up plastic waste, or become sea motorcycle taxi drivers. A barge that sank two years ago is even still piled up near the settlement and has not been evacuated.

Yanti (40), a mother of five children, supports her family by selling rice. Her long-standing fish business is no longer running. Previously, she cultivated fish in three cages, earning tens of millions every month.

Various incidents have caused their family business to decline. The fish farms and even their home have been hit by a nickel-laden barge and completely destroyed. They only received compensation.

Also read: Echoes of Education Buried by the Roar of Downstreaming in Bahodopi

However, their income is dwindling as the sea changes more and more. The seawater is murky, and warm as well. The fish in the floating cages are dying. If they manage to survive, the insides of the fish are damaged. This is suspected to be caused by waste disposal from industrial areas.

"We're afraid to even take a bath now. Our bodies itch and feel hot. Try it yourself if you don't believe us," he said. He then scoops water from the sea behind the house using a bucket. When touched, the water feels warm. "That's the drainage system right in front there," he said, pointing to a drainage channel with rapidly flowing water across the way."

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Yanti (40), a resident of Fatufai Village in Bahodopi, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, is showing signs of hand irritation due to the changes in the coast and environment following the massive nickel downstreaming industry.

Major changes

Bahodopi is a district in the Morowali Regency, which currently serves as the center of Indonesia's, even the world's, nickel industry. A significant change occurred with the establishment of a large-scale nickel refining area spanning 6,000 hectares. Currently, Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) manages the area with dozens of companies and is the largest exporter of nickel processed products. Over 80,000 people work in this area.

Media Relations Head of PT IMIP, Dedy Kurniawan, revealed that the company's drains are used seawater used to cool the PLTU's boilers. Every two months the party carries out tests at sea to measure sea water quality.

"We have repeatedly conducted tests and the temperature of the seawater is below 30 degrees Celsius. Additionally, there are no chemicals present as we only pump seawater for cooling and discharge it back into the ocean," he explained.

Also read: Poverty Rises in Nickel Processing Centers, Double Effect of Downstreaming is Not Yet Optimal

Regarding water management within industrial areas, Dedy mentioned that companies have water management facilities. The water source is managed, collected, and then directed to the factory to meet worker needs. The wastewater is then treated so that it can be reused. This process is also monitored internally or externally.

Meanwhile, regarding the condition of the reddened sea, he assures that it is not caused by the industrial area. "Because around Bahodopi and its river flow, there are mines and even at the upstream there is excavation C. So, we do not dispose of any sediment or waste into the river or sea," he said.

Aiyen Tjoa, a researcher from Tadulako University with a focus on soil biology and heavy metal extraction, stated that the cause of the red sea phenomenon needs to be further investigated. This is because many things could be the cause, whether it is due to river flow, intruding seawater from other areas, or other reasons.

The problem is that disposing of it into the sea could pose a danger to the community. If there are residents who are allergic or experiencing itchiness, that is actually a warning sign - an initial indication that something is happening around them.

However, the most concerning aspect, according to Aiyen, is the concentration of chemicals in the water itself. Nickel industrial areas, in particular, use acid for nickel processing. The leftover acid production must be ensured whether it is processed or disposed of in a specific location.

"The problem arises if it is thrown into the sea as it will be dangerous for the community. If there are citizens who suffer from allergies or itching, it is actually a warning, an initial sign that something is happening around them," he said.

Therefore, he hopes that regular check-ups are truly carried out and his condition is ensured. Because this can have a big impact on society. In addition, the local government must also take comprehensive handling steps. Improvements and evaluations are necessary so that the quality of life for the community does not deteriorate further.

"Companies are welcome to do business, but the environmental and human health must also be maintained. The responsibility of government as a regulator also plays an important role," he said.

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

A drainage channel belonging to the Indonesian company Morowali Industrial Park in the village of Labota, Bahodopi, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday (8/2/2024).

Program Director of Trend Asia, Ahmad Ashof Birry stated that the environmental, health, and social burden occurring in Bahodopi is a manifestation of the lack of long-term planning in the downstreaming of nickel. The industry that falls under the National Strategic Project (PSN) has been proven to be non-inclusive and accessible only to certain groups of society.

As a result, the surrounding residents are forced to endure a constantly changing condition. The environment is damaged, the water becomes murky and polluted with sediment and other waste. Not to mention the long-term health risks for the community.

"If we were to say, this is finally the region sacrificed in the name of downstreaming. The local community is forced to relocate due to the situation that has arisen. Whereas, the impact of downstreaming is also not as loudly proclaimed by the government," he said.

The Poverty Profile Data in Indonesia for March 2023 released by the Central Statistics Agency in July 2023 shows that the percentage of poor people recorded the highest increase in the largest nickel-producing and processing centers. In Southeast Sulawesi, the poverty rate increased by 0.16 percentage points from 11.27 percent in September 2022 to 11.43 percent in March 2023.

The second highest increase in poverty rates can be found in Central Sulawesi, which rose 0.11 percentage points from 12.30 percent to 12.41 percent. South Sulawesi, another region known for nickel production, experienced a 0.04 percentage point increase in poverty rates from 8.66 percent to 8.70 percent.

Poverty has also been observed to increase in other regions that produce and process nickel, such as North Maluku. As of March 2023, poverty in North Maluku has risen by 0.09 percentage point from 6.37 percent in September 2022 to 6.46 percent.

Children of fishermen play in Kurisa Hamlet, Fatufai Village, Bahodopi, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Tuesday (6/2/2024).

A study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) has found that despite the increase in downstream nickel exports, the quality of health, livelihoods, and ecology of the community has actually worsened. The operational processing of nickel has led to environmental degradation, including a decrease in water, soil, and air quality. Fishermen and farmers in the vicinity of the industrial area are estimated to incur losses of up to Rp 3.64 trillion in the next 15 years.

Nickel ore waste causes pollutants in water, and burning causes pollution in the air. If no meaningful measures are taken, this condition will continue to worsen.

Fiorentina Refani, a researcher in the field of energy and mining at Celios, explained that this figure represents the accumulation of losses suffered by the community due to environmental degradation. The research calculated the impact on health, community income, and the reduction in agricultural commodities.

Translation: Nickel ore waste causes pollutants in water and burning causes contamination in the air. If no effective steps are taken, this condition will continue to worsen. For example, waste in the water can cause long-term effects on national health. This is because fish from Sulawesi and Maluku regions are distributed to many areas," he explained on Wednesday (21/2/2024).

This situation occurred, he continued, because there has been no green commitment in the nickel downstream industry investment so far. Currently, there are still permits given for the use of coal energy in power plants for smelters. As a result, environmental impacts have been occurring for years and there have been no maximal efforts to enforce regulations. The government should have already implemented a moratorium on permits and evaluated the damages that have occurred.

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

A school located just tens of meters away from a power plant in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, in the village of Labota, Bahodopi, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, was found on Tuesday (6/2/2024).