Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by Forum Studi Halmahera, Trend Asia, and YLBHI details the environmental and social devastation caused by nickel mining and smelting in North Maluku, Indonesia. Despite high regional economic growth, the report finds rising poverty and severe ecological damage, including deforestation, water pollution with heavy metals, and frequent flash floods. It documents significant health impacts, such as a surge in Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) cases near the PT IWIP industrial estate, and reports numerous work accidents and deaths. The document argues that the 'clean energy transition' is being built on an 'unclean and unjust' production chain that displaces local communities and destroys traditional livelihoods.

This position paper by Forum Studi Halmahera (FOSHAL), Trend Asia, and YLBHI details the ecological and social devastation caused by nickel mining and downstream processing (hilirisasi) in North Maluku. It argues that while the province shows high economic growth driven by nickel exports, this is contrasted by rising poverty, severe deforestation, water pollution, and health crises among local populations.