Jakarta – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has decided to suspend the operation of PT GAG Nikel in Gag Island, Raja Ampat Regency, following widespread protests from the public, arguing that the nickel operation in the area has threatened Raja Ampat’s rich marine biodiversity.
Minister of EMR Bahlil Lahadalia said in a statement dated June 5, 2025, that the suspension decision was made in response to public protests over the impact of the mining activities on marine eco-tourism.
PT GAG Nikel is a subsidiary of state-owned mining company PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM). Aneka Tambang acquired GAG Nikel from APN Pte Ltd in 2008. GAG Nikel holds Contract of Works (COW) Generation VII number B53/Pres/I/1998 and was officially established in 1998.
GAG Nikel holds the permit to mine in an area with a total size of 13,136 hectares.
Minister Bahlil said that there are currently five mining companies licensed to carry out mining activities in the rich marine biodiversity area of Raja Ampat Regency. However, so far, only one company has been operating.
Bahlil defended that GAG Nikel is not located in Piaynemo tourism destination area, Raja Ampat and that the nickel mining area was about 30-40 kilometres away from the tourism destination area.
GAG Nikel is currently waiting for the final assessment being carried out by the government, which will determine whether it can resume operations or remain shut down.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment reported on Friday that it had found serious violations related to environmental regulations and rules governing small island development in the area.
Last Saturday, Bahlil Lahadalia visited the nickel mining site on Gag Island in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, to assess the impact of the nickel mining activities in the area. “I came here to see firsthand what is actually happening,” Lahadalia said during his visit.
Meanwhile, the energy ministry issued a statement on Monday claiming that some fishermen in the area have gained benefits from the presence of the GAG Mining operation as they can sell their fish to the company’s employees.
Several environmentalist groups, observers, analysts, and local church leaders have called on the government to halt the nickel mining operation, as it endangers the rich biodiversity of Raja Ampat, one of the world’s largest and richest marine biodiversity areas. (Roffie Kurniawan)
Banner photo: Landscape of Raja Ampat, Papua. Max Mossler/Wikimedia Commons
