Nickel mining in Indonesia's Raja Ampa is destroying coral sea paradise
Updated: 02 Jul 2011
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Tropical delight ... children enjoy the beauty of the reef in front of their village on Raja Ampat.
ONE of Australia's richest men, Clive Palmer, is buying nickel laterite ore for his Yabulu refinery from an Indonesian company that is defying a ban and mining in Raja Ampat, the world's most ecologically diverse marine environment.
An investigation by the Herald has discovered that as well as threatening the environment that is home to 75 per cent of the world's coral species, the supplier undercompensates landowners, has allegedly paid bribes for its licences and created deep rifts in the traditional communities of Raja Ampat.
Conservationists and activists have fought hard to have Raja Ampat, in West Papua province, protected but the mine on the island of Manuran where Queensland Nickel gets its nickel, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, remains open.
An investigation by the Herald has discovered that as well as threatening the environment that is home to 75 per cent of the world's coral species, the supplier undercompensates landowners, has allegedly paid bribes for its licences and created deep rifts in the traditional communities of Raja Ampat.
Conservationists and activists have fought hard to have Raja Ampat, in West Papua province, protected but the mine on the island of Manuran where Queensland Nickel gets its nickel, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, remains open.
The beauty of Raja Ampat
Wayag Island is one of the islands within the Raja Ampat district in the province of West Papua. The island is known for its beautiful atolls and amazing underwater life covering a total area of 155,000 hectares.
And its sister company continues to work at another disputed concession on the island of Kawe, despite a court order to desist.
Obtaining nickel laterite involves strip-mining the soil, leaving the steep hills bare. When heavy rains come, villagers near Manuran say the sea ''turns red'' from the runoff.
The environmental impact is devastating as heavy soil smothers the coral.
West Papua is one of two provinces in the restive Papua region where the Indonesian government has granted special autonomy to boost development in the face of persistent sentiment for independence.
But allegations of corruption by local officials, a heavy security presence and the perception that Papua's vast trove of natural resources is being plundered by outside interests have undermined the deal.
PT ASP and its sister company PT Anugerah Surya Indotama, which operates on Kawe, both bribed the district head for their permits, according to police documents.
Landowners receive less than 0.3 per cent of estimated revenue from the Manuran mine and the military has been deployed to protect the commercial interests of the supplier and, say local villagers, intimidate them.
After promising interviews, Queensland Nickel and Yos Hendri, the director of PT ASP and PT ASI, withdrew their offers and declined to answer detailed emailed questions.
Obtaining nickel laterite involves strip-mining the soil, leaving the steep hills bare. When heavy rains come, villagers near Manuran say the sea ''turns red'' from the runoff.
The environmental impact is devastating as heavy soil smothers the coral.
West Papua is one of two provinces in the restive Papua region where the Indonesian government has granted special autonomy to boost development in the face of persistent sentiment for independence.
But allegations of corruption by local officials, a heavy security presence and the perception that Papua's vast trove of natural resources is being plundered by outside interests have undermined the deal.
PT ASP and its sister company PT Anugerah Surya Indotama, which operates on Kawe, both bribed the district head for their permits, according to police documents.
Landowners receive less than 0.3 per cent of estimated revenue from the Manuran mine and the military has been deployed to protect the commercial interests of the supplier and, say local villagers, intimidate them.
After promising interviews, Queensland Nickel and Yos Hendri, the director of PT ASP and PT ASI, withdrew their offers and declined to answer detailed emailed questions.
SOURCE: Sydney Morning Herald
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