Raja Ampat Miners Were Already Active Before Permits Revoked, Greenpeace Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Greenpeace Indonesia has urged the government to take immediate steps toward restoring the environment in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, following the revocation of four mining business permits (IUP). The environmental organization emphasized that the cancellations should not remain as mere administrative gestures.

Earlier this month, the government announced it had revoked the mining permits of PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, and PT Nurham. However, the permit for PT Gag Nikel, located on Gag Island, remains valid, allowing the company to continue operations.

Kiki Taufik, Head of Forests Campaign at Greenpeace Indonesia, challenged the government's claim that the revoked companies had not yet begun operations

According to him, several companies, including PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining and PT Anugerah Surya, along with permit holders on Manyaifun Island, had already engaged in land-clearing activities.

"PT Nurham may have just begun placing equipment, but other companies have already cleared the forests, especially on Kawei Island. We have aerial video documentation and have personally witnessed the forest damage there," Kiki said on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Kiki stressed that canceling the permits is not enough. He called on the government to hold former permit holders accountable for restoring the environmental damage caused by their activities.

"We urge the government not only to revoke the permits but also to obligate former permit holders to restore the environment. This is a form of responsibility that must be carried out and closely monitored," he added.

He also warned of a recurring issue, where revoked permits are reinstated through legal challenges by the companies. Such scenarios, he said, could happen again in Raja Ampat if the situation isn't carefully watched.

"We call on the public and civil society to continue monitoring this process. We must not be complacent. Raja Ampat must truly be free from the threat of nickel mining, not only today, but in the future," Kiki concluded.

In response, Minister of Environment and Forestry Hanif Faisol Nurofiq confirmed that the four companies could face administrative and criminal sanctions. A team from the ministry will be dispatched to Raja Ampat this week to investigate potential violations and follow up on the permit revocations.

Depending on the findings, Hanif said the ministry could pursue three courses of action: administrative penalties, environmental dispute resolutions, or criminal lawsuits.

Hanif also emphasized the importance of follow-up restoration, saying the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources would oversee the process.

"There is potential for action there because there are several activities that have been carried out outside the norm. There is potential for criminal matters related to the mining activities that have been conducted," Hanif said after meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to the writing of this article.

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