Nickel Mining in Indonesia: The Unseen Damage to Traditional Ways of Life

Nickel mining is becoming a major industry in Indonesia, the world's largest nickel producer. With global demand expected to increase by at least 65% by 2030, the country has already signed deals worth billions of dollars with investors.

But conservationists warn that mining could have a devastating effect on the environment. On Labengki Island in Southeast Sulawesi, local fishermen Tawing and Lukman fear that if the government does not take action, waste from nickel mines will end up in the sea, damaging the island and surrounding marine life.

The journey to get to the nickel mines in North Konawe Regency takes about an hour by boat. As we approach, the green hills are replaced by brown, deforested patches. Excavators and barges can be seen digging and carrying the "new gold". The water beneath us is a reddish-brown colour.

In the coastal village of Boenaga, Lukman says he can no longer fish near his home due to the pollution. To mine nickel, large areas of trees are cut down and the land is excavated to create open pits. With the roots of the trees no longer present to stabilise the ground, when it rains earth is more easily swept away.

Chemicals such as sodium cyanide and diesel can also be used in the process. Local conservationist Habib Nadjar Buduha is afraid that sediment will end up in the sea, suffocating coral reefs. He has founded a conservation group to protect giant clams and is urging the government to take action.

The Indonesian Nickel Miners' Association acknowledges that there are patches of bare land which have not been reforested, but they put the onus on the government to check up on miners and ensure that what they put in their reports matches the reality.

The head of Boenaga village, Jufri Asri, believes the mines have brought benefits to his community. Financial agreements are in place to compensate for any inconvenience caused by mining activity and heavy vehicles travelling past homes, and many families receive a monthly fee of at least $70.

In the capital, Jakarta, campaigner Novita Indri blames the authorities for being "too weak". She wants to see higher environmental standards and tougher regulation. The adviser to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) agrees that supervision needs to improve and a national illegal mining taskforce has been established.

But for the Bajau people, change is not happening quickly enough. If things continue as they are, conservationist Habib warns that the damage could be irreversible. "We must act now," he says. "We cannot wait until the sea is all brown."