01 February 2025
PT Trimegah Bangun Persada Tbk or Harita Nickel has officially inaugurated the revitalized Loji Central Nursery, reaffirming its commitment to environmental sustainability. This nursery facility plays a crucial role in supporting post-mining land reclamation by providing high-quality plant seedlings.
The inauguration ceremony, held on January 30, 2025, was attended by Harita Nickel’s Director of Operations, Younsel Evand Roos, Director of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), Tonny Gultom, as well as senior management representatives from various business units within the company.
The revitalization of Loji Central Nursery is a strategic initiative aimed at addressing the increasing demand for revegetation seedlings while enhancing operational efficiency through a more modern and integrated facility. Spanning 2.8 hectares, the nursery has significantly expanded its production capacity to 400,000 seedlings, a substantial increase from its previous capacity of 160,000 seedlings on 1.8 hectares.
“As mining operations continue to develop on Obi Island, we remain steadfast in our commitment to prioritizing environmental conservation. The establishment of this enhanced nursery facility, equipped with comprehensive and advanced infrastructure, is a tangible demonstration of our dedication to sustainable practices,” stated Younsel Evand Roos.
He further explained that Harita Nickel has operated a nursery since 2009. However, with the expansion of mining activities and an increase in reclamation targets, from an initial 6 hectares to 60 hectares per year, the need for a modern facility became imperative.
The nursery will supply a variety of seedlings tailored to revegetation needs, including species such as Casuarina (Cemara Laut), Senna siamea (Johar), Albizia (Sengon), Anthocephalus macrophyllus (Jabon Merah), Pometia pinnata (Matoa), Canarium (Kenari), Jackfruit (Nangka), Rambutan, Cashew (Jambu Mete), and Calophyllum (Bintangur).
Tonny Gultom, Director of HSE at Harita Nickel, added that the diverse plant selection at Loji Central Nursery is not only designed to fulfill regulatory requirements but also serves broader ecological benefits.
“By incorporating a wider variety of plant species, particularly fruit-bearing trees, we aim to attract frugivorous wildlife and enhance the ecological balance of the reclaimed ecosystem," he stated. This diversity aligns with regulatory guidelines, which permit up to 10% of revegetation plantings to consist of fruit-bearing species.
This biodiversity initiative is further strengthened by a structured seedling cultivation process to ensure high-quality seedlings for reclamation efforts. Tonny emphasized that each seedling undergoes rigorous selection and care at Loji Central Nursery before being planted in reclamation areas.
Harita Nickel continues to reinforce its commitment to sustainable mining practices through the inauguration of Loji Central Nursery. This modern facility not only supports revegetation and post-mining land rehabilitation programs but also empowers local communities by involving them in the supply of native seedlings, fertilizers, and land maintenance labor in accordance with established standards.
“The company actively engages local communities in the supply of native seedlings, aligning with regulatory requirements that mandate at least 40% of plants used in reclamation efforts be sourced from local species,” Tonny added.
As part of its commitment to environmentally sustainable innovation, the development of this nursery utilized 24,000 paving blocks, 146,000 concrete bricks, and 441 m³ of nickel slag-based concrete. This approach supports the company’s efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of its ferronickel processing operations.
The revitalization of this nursery facility also ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, including Presidential Regulation No. 77 of 2024 on accelerating nursery development in mining areas and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree No. 1827 K/30/MEM/2018 on good mining practices.
Through this initiative, Harita Nickel reaffirms its role as a responsible nickel mining and processing company, committed to ecosystem sustainability and the well-being of local communities.
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