Some on Indonesian Islands Fear Mining Damage to Environment

Indonesia has the world's largest known supply of nickel and major supplies of valuable minerals,

including cobalt and bauxite. However, the mining industry there is being criticized for not

protecting the environment and some Indonesian island people. The Southeast Asian country is

involved in mining that produces materials important to the manufacture of stainless

steel and electric vehicle batteries, among other things. Indonesia is aiming to expand its mining

and processing industries, but the development could face opposition from international and

local groups. Nickel processing centers are becoming more common in parts of Indonesia.

Sometimes the plants are near the sea, where many boats line up to carry ore, a mineral combination

that contains nickel. Sometimes these plants are near schools or places where local people fish

or farm. The World Resources Institute, based in Washington DC, says from 2001 to 2020 1.4 million

hectares of trees were cut down around the world. Indonesia is estimated to have had the highest

loss. Amanda Hurwitz is a director with Mighty Earth. The environmental group is also based in

Washington DC. Hurwitz said that on the island of Caballena, mining companies have cleared

3,700 hectares of forest in the last 22 years. Fishermen who used to fish off the island have

said the waters are filled with sediment from the mines. People in farming communities also say they

are affected. They say sugarcane, sugar palms, and clove trees do not grow well anymore. Amal

Susanto is a sugar palm farmer. He said that's the effect. The growth of the sugar palm trees

will not be as good because of the influence of mining. Susanto lives in an area where permits

have been approved but mining has not yet begun. People living in the area have reported health

problems. Some told the Associated Press, AP, that they suffered from itchy skin, sore throat,

and other difficulties. The Indonesia-based nonprofit group Satyabhumi sent water, dust,

and shellfish from the area to a laboratory this year. The group said the results showed

dangerous levels of nickel, lead, and cadmium. These substances are linked to mining. Catherine

Schilling is an assistant professor and biology researcher at Columbia University in New York

City. She studied the lab results. Schilling told the AP, if people on this island are using the

river water as drinking water you cannot escape basically any of the exposure to those toxic

metals. Kabayena is not the only place affected. To the north on a larger island, Torobulu,

is another place where mining damage can be seen. The mining problems continue although Indonesia's

constitutional court ruled in March of this year that small islands such as Kabayena should have

special protection. However, a researcher from Satyabhumi said the government is still approving

mining permits. The group Mighty Earth said 150 hectares of forest have been cleared on Kabayena

since April 1st and it said over half of that was on land controlled by the mining company

Tonia Mitra Sejatera. The company and Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources did not

answer requests for comment from the AP. Amiruddin is a 53 year old fisherman on Kabayena Island. He

said the results of the government permits for mining have affected many people. All residents

here have felt the impact, he said. I'm Mario Ritter Jr.