Nickel mining boom in Indonesia brings pollution and health crisis
Respiratory illnesses have surged in an Indonesian village near a major nickel processing site as mining operations expand, polluting the air and environment.
Rabul Sawal reports for Mongabay.
In short:
- A village near Indonesia’s Weda Bay Industrial Park saw respiratory infection cases jump from 434 in 2020 to 10,579 in 2023.
- The nickel industry, fueled by coal power, has cleared over 5,300 hectares of forest, releasing millions of tons of greenhouse gases.
- Residents report worsening air quality, dust contamination and ongoing health issues, while activists face legal threats for protesting pollution.
Key quote:
“The dust comes in on the table. Every day we feel sick from inhaling various kinds of dust.”
— Hernemus Takuling, resident of Lelilef Sawai
Why this matters:
Nickel, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, is increasingly in demand as the world transitions away from fossil fuels. Yet the environmental and health consequences of nickel mining are raising serious concerns. Extracting nickel often involves strip mining, a process that destroys ecosystems, drives deforestation and generates vast amounts of waste. In regions like Indonesia and the Philippines, major hubs for nickel production, this activity has also led to the expansion of coal power, used to process the metal.
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