March 16, 2025 — Mining operations persist on Gebe Island, Indonesia, despite legal restrictions and resistance from Indigenous communities. Nickel extraction has disrupted food security, contaminated water sources, and degraded marine ecosystems, raising concerns over environmental and social justice violations.

Environmental Devastation and Indigenous Resistance

The PT Bartra Putra Mulia (BPM) nickel mine, operating since 2020, has significantly altered life on Gebe Island, where fewer than 6,000 residents depend on fishing and agriculture. Locals report pollution affecting fruit trees and root vegetables, as well as dwindling fish stocks. The situation reflects broader challenges, with seven nickel concessions operating on this small island in North Maluku province.

Water shortages and land degradation have worsened since BPM began mining on a 1,850-hectare (4,570-acre) concession. Residents say they were not informed or consulted about these changes, violating the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), which ensures Indigenous peoples' rights to their land.

The concession overlaps customary territory, raising concerns about how local authorities approved the permit. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s 2007 law on small islands and coastal areas (PWP3K), designed to protect fragile ecosystems, should have excluded Gebe from mining activities. Yet, as seen on Wawonii Island, where nickel mining has also scarred landscapes, these legal protections are often ignored.

Corruption and Corporate Interests

The expansion of mining has been fueled by corruption. Former North Maluku Governor Abdul Gani Kasuba was sentenced to eight years in prison for bribery and money laundering linked to mining permits. These illicit deals allow corporations to circumvent environmental laws and exploit Indonesia's vast nickel reserves.

Indonesia, home to the world’s largest nickel reserves, has seen its nickel ore export revenue surge from $1 billion in 2015 to over $30 billion in 2022. However, economic benefits do not reach local communities, as national statistics indicate no significant improvement in living standards among populations near mining sites.

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Cultural and Ecological Destruction

Nickel mining has profoundly impacted Gebe’s cultural and ecological heritage. The sacred sites of Mount Kaf, once revered by the Magimai, Magpo, and Magtublo clans, are now excavation zones. Indigenous residents lament that ancestral sago groves have been inundated with mud, devastating a staple food source. Promises of compensation remain unfulfilled, leaving communities struggling to sustain their traditions.

Fishing, another pillar of local life, is also in jeopardy. Sediment from mining has turned coastal waters brown, burying coral reefs and driving away fish species like groupers and snappers. Fishermen now travel over 80 km (50 mi) to Raja Ampat to secure catches, increasing costs and risks at sea.

Nickel Processing and Pollution

The extracted nickel is transported to the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP), one of the world’s largest processing facilities. However, high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL), used to extract nickel, is highly polluting, worsening environmental damage. Cases of respiratory infections in nearby Weda villages skyrocketed from 434 in 2020 to 10,579 in 2023, highlighting the human cost of Indonesia’s mining boom.

The Future of Gebe Island

Deforestation due to mining has rapidly escalated. Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) recorded a 63-hectare (156-acre) loss on Gebe between 2022 and 2023, contributing to 318,500 hectares (787,000 acres) of deforestation across Indonesia’s small islands. This unchecked destruction threatens rare species like the endangered Gebe cuscus (Phalanger alexandrae), unseen by locals in recent years.

With mining permits valid until 2032, activists fear Gebe may be left barren once resources are depleted. "The companies will leave, and the people will be left with misery because nothing will be left of use," warns Anggi Putra Yoga, an environmental advocate.

As Indigenous communities continue to fight for their rights, the fate of Gebe Island remains uncertain. The ongoing struggle highlights the urgent need for environmental accountability, corporate responsibility, and enforcement of Indigenous land rights in Indonesia.

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