Nickel and Neglect: When Green Energy in Indonesia Comes at the Expense of Human Rights
Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel, supplying an estimated 48% and 50% of mine supply in 2022 and 2023, respectively.[1] This surge is driven by the growing need for nickel in renewable energy technologies, particularly for electric vehicle (EV) batteries —the very heart of the green revolution. But while the world celebrates the promise of clean energy, the communities in Halmahera Islands, North Maluku, are living with the devastating consequences of this unchecked industrial expansion. Since 2021, eight large-scale smelters have been operating in the region transforming once-pristine landscapes into polluted industrial zones.[2]
For the people living near these mining and smelting sites, the nickel boom represents not just economic growth, but also significant public health and environmental challenges. Interviews conducted by Climate Rights International highlight how these challenges have escalated into grave threats to the fundamental rights of affected communities.[3]
The pollution of clean water sources in those areas is due to nickel ore sedimentation from mining company operations. Observations by JATAM revealed nickel ore sedimentation from mining operations has contaminated major water sources, including the Sagea-Boki Maruru and Kobe Rivers.[4] It is worth noting that nickel exposure through drinking water can cause various health problems such as contact dermatitis, immunological disorders, neurological disorders, reproductive disorders, developmental disorders, and carcinogenic effects that can lead to death.[5]
Beyond the health crisis, this contamination has fundamentally altered daily life. For generations, residents relied on natural water sources for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Now, they are forced to buy water at IDR 5,000 (US$0.33) per gallon—an unnecessary financial burden caused by irresponsible industrial practices.[6] One local resident, who once depended on the Ake Doma River, shared how he has dug three wells in an effort to find clean water, only to face ongoing shortages that jeopardize his family's well-being.[7]
The situation in Central Weda and North Weda highlights a violation of the residents' right to health, which is protected under various national and international legal frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR, Article 12) and also Indonesian Constitution (Article 28H). This right guarantees access to conditions necessary for the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including clean water, a healthy environment, and protection from harmful pollutants. By allowing nickel mining operations to contaminate water sources without strict regulation, the Indonesian government is failing to uphold these legal commitments. Communities that once thrived off their natural resources are now paying the price for an industry.
As noted by United Nations Secretary General AT COP 28, “The extraction of critical minerals for the clean energy revolution – from wind farms to solar panels and battery manufacturing – must be done in a sustainable, fair and just way.”[8]
This statement reflects a growing global consensus: while the transition to renewable energy is essential, it must not cause or contribute to environmental degradation and human rights violations that have historically plagued extractive industries. What good is a “green” transition if it consists of the same practices that harm the very communities and ecosystems it seeks to protect?
React acknowledges the critical role of electric vehicles (EVs) in advancing renewable energy and sustainable transportation. However, this transition will only be truly “green” and “just” if it upholds human rights and respect for the environment across the entire supply chain, ensuring that the drive toward sustainability does not come at the expense of vulnerable communities or fragile ecosystems.
Therefore, the Indonesian government must ensure that the rapid expansion of the nickel industry aligns with environmental sustainability and human rights principles. This requires the enforcement of strict mining regulations that mandate responsible operational practices, coupled with comprehensive efforts to assess, monitor, and investigate allegations of environmental pollution and human rights violations. If left unchecked, nickel mining in Indonesia risks becoming another example of extractive industries repeating the same cycle of exploitation.
At the same time, nickel mining companies operating that are already responsible for water contamination must immediately address the harm caused to local communities by providing access to remedy before more lives are put at risk.
Ultimately, ensuring a just and sustainable future requires a collective commitment from governments, corporations, and local communities to integrate economic development, environmental protection, and respect for human rights into every aspect of the nickel supply chain.
[1] https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/nickel-statistics-and-information
[2] https://dokumen.jatam.org/66a8c5122b1cb_20240730_174850.pdf
[3] https://cri.org/reports/nickel-unearthed/
[4] https://jatam.org/id/lengkap/Perampokan-Halmahera
[5] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7037090/
[6] https://jatam.org/id/lengkap/Perampokan-Halmahera
[7] https://jatam.org/id/lengkap/Perampokan-Halmahera
[8] https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/december-2023/cop28-extraction-minerals-needed-green-energy-must-be-%E2%80%98sustainable-and-just%E2%80%99