CRI Reports Human Rights Abuses, Pollution in Indonesia's Nickel Sector

October 16, 2025 | 05:40 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A recent report from Climate Rights International (CRI) urges the Indonesian government and companies in the mining sector, particularly nickel, to immediately stop violating the rights of local communities, clean up air and water pollution, and gradually phase out the use of captive coal.

The 115-page report titled "Does Anyone Care? The Human, Environmental, and Climate Toll of Indonesia's Nickel Industry" was released on Thursday, October 15, 2025. CRI presented the results of interviews conducted in Southeast Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, and North Maluku, Indonesia's three main nickel industry regions.

"This is the third report from Climate Rights International regarding the mineral industry in Indonesia," said Krista Shennum, a researcher at Climate Rights International, during the event in Jakarta on Thursday. "For this third report, we have interviewed 93 people living near mining areas or working in nickel processing facilities," she said.

Communities around industrial areas reported severe air and water pollution, health problems due to mining activities, damage to the livelihoods of fishermen and farmers, and intimidation by security forces. They are also concerned about the risk of diseases such as respiratory problems and stunting in children due to mining dust and emissions from smelters and captive coal power plants.

"With COP30 approaching in Brazil, the Indonesian government should demonstrate genuine leadership by announcing ambitious and measurable plans to decarbonize captive coal projects and suppress deforestation caused by nickel mining," Shennum said.

Global energy transition, she said, should not be driven by environmental destruction practices similar to those carried out by extractive industries for decades. "The rights of indigenous communities and other frontline mineral mining communities must be fully respected."

Since 2016, the number of nickel smelters in Indonesia has increased from two to more than 60, with the export value of its derivative products reaching around US$38-40 billion in 2024. Indonesia now supplies more than half of the world's nickel, most of which is used to produce electric vehicle batteries. However, CRI believes that multinational companies benefiting from this supply chain have not made much effort to address the social and environmental impacts caused.

CRI also highlights the use of captive coal, exacerbating the climate crisis. The total capacity of the power plants that supply energy to the nickel industrial areas is 18.6 gigawatts. However, these power plants are not required to conduct individual Environmental Impact Assessments (AMDAL) or report greenhouse gas emissions.

"In Indonesian industrial projects, local communities are now in an area that seems to be a 'victim zone', where nickel extraction takes a toll on health, livelihoods, and human rights," said Shennum.

In its report, CRI urges the Indonesian government to strengthen its regulations to minimize the social and environmental impacts of coal-fired power plants to halt the issuance of new construction permits, and ensure the protection of indigenous communities. The organization also views the militarization in mining areas as increasing in line with policies that weaken environmental protection.

Additionally, CRI calls on nickel companies to improve water and air pollution, provide fair compensation to affected residents, and ensure the process of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for indigenous communities. Electric vehicle manufacturers and global battery producers should also urge their Indonesian suppliers to stop human rights violations and quickly switch to renewable energy sources.

"Because more than half of the world's nickel supply comes from Indonesia, most electric vehicle manufacturers and battery producers use Indonesian nickel."

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