29 April 2025
Harita Nickel's commitment to responsible and sustainable mining practices has earned appreciation from various parties. The Coordinator of the Mining Advocacy Consortium (KATAM) for North Maluku, Muhlis Ibrahim, stated that the presence of the integrated nickel mining and downstream processing company operating on Obi Island has made a positive contribution to the region’s economic growth.
This statement was made after his visit to the Harita Nickel site in Kawasi Village, Obi District, South Halmahera Regency, from April 19 to 21, 2025.
“I see a lot of changes compared to my last visit in 2022. Most notably, infrastructure development. This has significantly narrowed the infrastructure gap between villages and shortened the long economic chain,” said the mining practitioner.
During his second visit, one of the things that caught his attention was Harita Nickel’s Community Development and Empowerment Program (PPM) through the Community Entrepreneurship Unit (UNIKK). It was recorded that the turnover from seven Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)—consisting of 42 local residents from two villages surrounding the company's operations—reached IDR 5 billion per year. These business units, primarily managed by housewives, operate in the culinary sector, ranging from supplying snacks to processing derivative products from nutmeg and soybeans, to managing cafés and mini-markets within the company’s area.
“The company not only equips residents with knowledge but also provides access to markets. Now, it's up to the community whether they want to seize this opportunity or not. Clearly, those who joined the company’s supported groups have already felt the benefits,” he explained.
During his visit, Muhlis also visited the new Kawasi Village settlement firsthand. He expressed his support for the resettlement of residents, as the old village, surrounded by the company's operational activities, was no longer safe for residents’ health and well-being. According to him, the South Halmahera Regency Government’s program, fully supported by Harita Nickel, to provide better housing with more complete facilities, is the right policy.
“Let’s not allow the community to become victims, used as a tool for conflict. As long as the old settlement remains, it will continue to be exploited to attack the company, with narratives portraying poverty and slum conditions in the midst of a thriving industrial area,” he emphasized, dismissing accusations that he said were not aligned with facts on the ground.
To those who remain skeptical of Harita Nickel, Muhlis encouraged them to visit and see firsthand the progress and initiatives carried out by the company. According to him, Harita Nickel is very open to receiving input.
Muhlis invites parties who are still skeptical towards Harita Nickel's commitment to stay in touch and establish good communication with the company. On the other hand, he also asked the company to open space for the community to convey input.
“For me, it is important that the company is more transparent regarding environmental management patterns, because this is a very sexy issue. The most dominant issue in every mining activity is environmental issues. So it's just a matter of how to be more open to explain to the public,” said the mining lecturer.
In addition to social aspects, Muhlis said Harita Nickel's commitment to environmental sustainability is in accordance with its practices in the field. He gave an example of the company's efforts in managing mine runoff water by preparing as many as 52 settling ponds. One of them is Tuguraci 2, the largest pond with an area of 43 hectares. These ponds are monitored regularly to ensure the water has met quality standards before being released to environmental bodies.
“Harita Nickel is a key asset for North Maluku. Let’s support them by continuously monitoring their commitment so that investment activities can proceed smoothly,” he said.
Concluding his visit, Muhlis expressed his appreciation for Harita Nickel’s consistent application of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles across its operations. He also hoped that Harita Nickel would set an example for other companies investing in North Maluku.
Watch the visit of KATAM Coordinator Muhlis Ibrahim to Harita Nickel site in Obi here.
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