"I came here to see firsthand what is actually happening," Lahadalia said during his visit. He added that the findings from the visit would be reported by his ministry.
The site is operated by GAG Nikel, a subsidiary of the state-owned mining company Antam. GAG Nikel’s mining activities have been temporarily suspended after Lahadalia issued an order on Thursday in response to growing public complaints.
Director General of Minerals and Coal, Tri Winarno, said the mining site is not especially large and highlighted the company’s land restoration efforts.
“Out of a total of 263 hectares cleared, 131 hectares have been reclaimed and 59 hectares have already been restored,” he explained.
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Winarno also said that aerial surveys showed no signs of sediment buildup in nearby coastal waters, suggesting that the mine has not caused major environmental damage—at least for now. However, he noted that the government has not yet completed its official evaluation of the site.
GAG Nikel is currently waiting for the final assessment, 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.
The company holds a Contract of Work (KK) and operates within a mining permit area of over 13,000 hectares. It began operations in 2018 after receiving environmental clearance the previous year.
“There are a few mining permits in Raja Ampat—probably five—but GAG Nikel is the only one currently operating, and it’s owned by Antam,” Lahadalia said.
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Translator: Putu Indah Savitri, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Anton Santoso
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