In 2018, the Village of Kawasi Village on Obi Island was rated as Tertinggal or ‘Left behind’ according to the Developing Index Metric (IDM). This metric is used by the Indonesian government to understand and compare the quality of life for people living in developing communities - and to ensure support is allocated where it’s needed most.
The quality of life in Kawasi has improved since 2018, the village is now rated as Berkembang or ‘Developing’ in the IDM metric - but the people of Kawasi need help to continue their journey towards prosperity and independence.
The primary area of concern is the village’s proximity to the ocean. It’s nestled right on the coast which makes it vulnerable to sea level rises, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events. This is why, in 2019, the government decided to resettle the village to an inland location with more space and better infrastructure.
As we are the closest neighbors to Kawasi Village, and a source of economic development for the island, Harita Nickel agreed to support the government’s decision by releasing approximately 103 ha of land so a new village could be built well above sea level at an inland location. Harita Nickel also took responsibility for constructing the new village – an obligation we don’t take lightly.
In this article, we'll cover the process of resettlement and discuss the construction of New Kawasi. We are proud of the new development; it demonstrates just some of the social sustainability efforts we have established to support the community of Kawasi.
While the decision to resettle the community was not made by Harita Nickel, we are deeply committed to ensuring a fair and equitable transition is made as the village is resettled. This meant going beyond construction, we needed to ensure the people of Kawasi were able to collaborate and make their own decisions as the resettlement progressed.
There was vital requirement to build trust with the residents of Kawasi, remain flexible to meet their needs and most importantly, make sure the residents have various channels to express their opinions. To do this we asked for feedback though sentiment surveys and opened a contact line so residents could share any issues anonymously if they came up.
We’ve also worked hard to ensure the Kawasi resettlement process is carried out in accordance with international standards such as the initiative for responsible mining (IRMA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). These require information sharing with villagers, communication frameworks, appropriate compensation schemes for economic assets and a grievance mechanism. There is also an action plan for resettlement including an external monitoring mechanism.
Throughout the process, communication between the government, the company and the residents of Kawasi has been ongoing and after four years of planning and discussion, we are pleased to share that the majority of eligible Kawasi residents are looking forward to making their new homes.
The residents of Kawasi village currently only have access to electricity 12 hours a day. In the new settlement, the community will be connected to a reliable 24-hour supply of electricity funded by Harita. Electricity is a basic life necessity so by making it freely available round-the-clock we hope to contribute to a surge in productivity, comfort and quality of life.
Facilities
The settlement has a new Polindes and Puskemas to improve quality of healthcare available to the community. Two schools are already operational in New Kawasi. There’s also a Mosque, a Church and a general community meeting hall for events and celebration. The sports center has a gym and tennis courts and there’s a commercial district with approximately 53 premises allocated for restaurants.
Food Security
The land in and around the settlement has healthy soil that’s deemed productive, and it’s very close to Salam Kawasi - a large agricultural training center. Salam Kawasi is an integrated sustainable agriculture learning location designed to educate the community on high value commodity farming techniques such as animal husbandry and fisheries processes.
Economic prosperity
Harita Nickel supports local businesses with an aim to hire more local suppliers and increase economic prospects for the community. For example, produce from the village farms can be sold to the company, improving the livelihood of the villagers in a step towards achieving sustainable financial independence. In the new settlement there is also an economic area being built around the jetty to build a foundation for export. For those who wish to expand, there are further vast tracts of productive land surrounding the settlement.
Reliable Construction
We wanted to construct long lasting buildings in the new settlement of Kawasi so we chose to use recycled nickel slag blocks which are renowned for their non-absorbent properties. This is ideal in a tropical climate with frequent rain and the sturdy buildings will serve as a foundation for a resilient and thriving community.
The brick is not only recycled and proven non-toxic in a variety of tests, it’s extremely durable, non-absorbent and incredibly strong which makes it an ideal material for constructing sturdy, shock-resistant structures like our own offices, the living quarters, streets and drainage systems in New Kawasi.
Infrastructure
At Harita Nickel we understand that improving community infrastructure has a significant impact on quality of life so we have committed to doing a good job. This meant building efficient transport links with robust concrete roads and good drainage. Garbage disposal services will improve hygiene in the area and general sanitation services and are key to maintaining health and wellbeing. Overall, the resettlement aims to deliver a significantly improved quality of life and accelerate economic growth for the community of Kawasi.
Our engagement with the communities on Obi Island is long-standing. We pledge our continued support to the people of Kawasi, both during and post our operational period on Obi Island. While timelines might shift, our commitment to acting in good faith never wavers. We are continually adapting to community feedback and government requirements. Progress is being made, as documented through regular meetings and official processes, and we are excited to share our progress on this journey with you.
For an initiative of this scale and impact, it is important to be transparent, inclusive, and adaptive to the needs of the community. Communication is a priority as we work toward creating a better future for Kawasi, so if you have questions, please get in touch - we’re here to listen.
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