Indonesia's Nickel Mining Hurting Forests
2024-07-26
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1Indonesia aims to be the world's top nickel supplier.
2But its efforts to produce nickel have seriously harmed the country's forests, nonprofit groups say.
3Indonesia is the world's third most rainforest-covered country, home to giant forest flowers and rare wild animals such as orangutans and elephants.
4Indonesia also has the largest reserves of nickel in the world.
5The metal lies in shallow deposits in the rain forest. Mining it is easy when the rainforest is cut down.
6Until recently, Indonesia mostly sold its nickel deposits in untreated form.
7It did not have factories to process the metal.
8Unprocessed nickel sells for less than the processed product.
9Ten years ago, Indonesian officials decided the country should stop selling its resources at such a low cost.
10Instead, officials said Indonesia would process the metal so it would sell at a higher price.
11This would result in more job openings, also, officials said.
12A large nickel-processing project began.
13Indonesian President Joko Widodo pushed the project further by building nickel factories, or smelters, near electric vehicle battery factories.
14In addition to the new nickel plants, coal power plants were built also to serve the new industrial sites.
15More than 740,000 square kilometers of Indonesian rainforest have been logged, burned or degraded, since 1950, reports the non-profit research group Global Forest Watch.
16But at the sites where developers are building these smelters, the surrounding forest disappears twice as fast, a new study by the Indonesian nonprofit Auriga says.
17The new study of rainforest loss, based on government data, shows deforestation rose from an average of 33 square kilometers around each nickel processing plant, or smelter, to 63 square kilometers.
18Indonesia plans to build as many as 22 new plants.
19If plans go through deforestation will likely greatly increase.
20"The damage to the environment is devastating," said Timer Manurung of Auriga.
21"...Rivers are polluted, mangroves are cut to develop smelter areas, coastal areas and coral are being damaged by the smelters."
22The waste from coal power plants is another problem, he said.
23The Associated Press verified the methodology used in the Auriga report.
24The area of Weda Bay is now one of the world's largest nickel production centers.
25Smelters and coal-fired power plants burn to process nickel ore into material for batteries and steel.
26The village of Lelilef Sawai is now surrounded by the Weda Bay Industrial Park.
27There, the deforestation and its effects are clear.
28Local farmer Librek Loha remains in Lelilef Sawai, refusing to sell the land he has taken care of for forty years.
29Now orange dust often covers his plants and clean water is often lacking.
30The plants also grow more slowly, he said.
31From his land, he can hear building sounds and see bright orange material flow into the sea.
32Research shows landslides are far more likely in deforested areas.
33Max Sigoro, 54, is a traditional hunter and farmer.
34Bright lights and noise from construction scare the deer he used to hunt at night.
35He says he has lost nearly all the means he had to earn a living since the industrial park's growth.
36PT Indonesia Weda Bay officials declined to speak to the Associated Press.
37The company says it has planted more than 10 square kilometers of new trees.
38It says it plays an active part in supporting the living standards of local people, offering economic development.
39And, the industrial zone meets all environmental standards, PT Indonesia Weda Bay says.
40The company also says it works to protect water and has launched coral and mangrove planting programs.
41The Weda Bay project is just one of the industrial parks criticized by locals nearby.
42An industrial park on the island of Borneo and other projects in North Maluku are also under community protests.
43Perhaps related to these public objections, European companies may be losing interest in nickel from Indonesia.
44In recent weeks, the French mining company Eramet and German chemical giant BASF announced they were canceling plans to build a $2.6 billion nickel plant in Indonesia.
45Indonesia has been seeking to work more with Tesla, which uses twice as much metal in its total production of batteries than the next highest auto competitor.
46The amount of nickel Tesla used in 2023 was up a third over the year before.
47Only 13 percent came from Indonesia last year.
48But Tesla's 2023 impact report noted Indonesia 18 times and warned the country's nickel will be very important.
49Tesla did not answer an AP email requesting information about its use of nickel from Indonesia and deforestation.
50Questions to Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs and Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources also went unanswered.
51I'm John Russell.
52And I'm Ashley Thompson.
1Indonesia aims to be the world's top nickel supplier. But its efforts to produce nickel have seriously harmed the country's forests, nonprofit groups say. 2Natural resources 3Indonesia is the world's third most rainforest-covered country, home to giant forest flowers and rare wild animals such as orangutans and elephants. 4Indonesia also has the largest reserves of nickel in the world. The metal lies in shallow deposits in the rain forest. Mining it is easy when the rainforest is cut down. 5Until recently, Indonesia mostly sold its nickel deposits in untreated form. It did not have factories to process the metal. Unprocessed nickel sells for less than the processed product. 6Ten years ago, Indonesian officials decided the country should stop selling its resources at such a low cost. Instead, officials said Indonesia would process the metal so it would sell at a higher price. This would result in more job openings, also, officials said. 7A large nickel-processing project began. Indonesian President Joko Widodo pushed the project further by building nickel factories, or smelters, near electric vehicle battery factories. In addition to the new nickel plants, coal power plants were built also to serve the new industrial sites. 8Forest loss 9More than 740,000 square kilometers of Indonesian rainforest have been logged, burned or degraded, since 1950, reports the non-profit research group Global Forest Watch. 10But at the sites where developers are building these smelters, the surrounding forest disappears twice as fast, a new study by the Indonesian nonprofit Auriga says. 11The new study of rainforest loss, based on government data, shows deforestation rose from an average of 33 square kilometers around each nickel processing plant, or smelter, to 63 square kilometers. 12Indonesia plans to build as many as 22 new plants. If plans go through deforestation will likely greatly increase. 13"The damage to the environment is devastating," said Timer Manurung of Auriga. "...Rivers are polluted, mangroves are cut to develop smelter areas, coastal areas and coral are being damaged by the smelters." 14The waste from coal power plants is another problem, he said. The Associated Press verified the methodology used in the Auriga report. 15Effects 16The area of Weda Bay is now one of the world's largest nickel production centers. Smelters and coal-fired power plants burn to process nickel ore into material for batteries and steel. 17The village of Lelilef Sawai is now surrounded by the Weda Bay Industrial Park. There, the deforestation and its effects are clear. Local farmer Librek Loha remains in Lelilef Sawai, refusing to sell the land he has taken care of for forty years. Now orange dust often covers his plants and clean water is often lacking. The plants also grow more slowly, he said. 18From his land, he can hear building sounds and see bright orange material flow into the sea. Research shows landslides are far more likely in deforested areas. 19Max Sigoro, 54, is a traditional hunter and farmer. Bright lights and noise from construction scare the deer he used to hunt at night. He says he has lost nearly all the means he had to earn a living since the industrial park's growth. 20PT Indonesia Weda Bay officials declined to speak to the Associated Press. 21The company says it has planted more than 10 square kilometers of new trees. It says it plays an active part in supporting the living standards of local people, offering economic development. And, the industrial zone meets all environmental standards, PT Indonesia Weda Bay says. 22The company also says it works to protect water and has launched coral and mangrove planting programs. 23The Weda Bay project is just one of the industrial parks criticized by locals nearby. An industrial park on the island of Borneo and other projects in North Maluku are also under community protests. 24Perhaps related to these public objections, European companies may be losing interest in nickel from Indonesia. 25In recent weeks, the French mining company Eramet and German chemical giant BASF announced they were canceling plans to build a $2.6 billion nickel plant in Indonesia. 26Indonesia has been seeking to work more with Tesla, which uses twice as much metal in its total production of batteries than the next highest auto competitor. The amount of nickel Tesla used in 2023 was up a third over the year before. Only 13 percent came from Indonesia last year. But Tesla's 2023 impact report noted Indonesia 18 times and warned the country's nickel will be very important. 27Tesla did not answer an AP email requesting information about its use of nickel from Indonesia and deforestation. 28Questions to Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs and Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources also went unanswered. 29I'm John Russell. 30And I'm Ashley Thompson. 31Victoria Milko, Ed Davey, and Camille Fassett reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 32____________________________________________ 33Words in This Story 34shallow - adj. having little depth 35deposit - n. a natural accumulation of something (ore, oil, etc.) 36battery - n. a cell that gives electricity 37devastating - adj. causing great damage or harm 38mangrove - n. tropical maritime trees or shrubs that send out many roots and form dense masses