The COVID-19 pandemic lasting for two years knows no social class—it affects many people’s livelihoods across the globe. In West Papua, particularly on the island of Raja Ampat, the pandemic has caused a massive economic crisis to the local communities. However, it doesn’t significantly affect those residing in Gag Island, thanks to the presence of nickel mining.
Nickel Mining in Gag Island
Gag Island is one of the islands that make up the Raja Ampat archipelago. It’s located approximately 150 kilometers from the province capital, Sorong. The number of people residing here may not be as many as other islands. Only around 450 people live in Gambier Bay.
The community was first established by those who moved here in the 1960s with the hopes of making a living with nickel prospecting enterprises. As you know, West Papua is the most eastern province of Indonesia with the most abundant valuable natural resources, one of which is nickel.
For that reason, Gag Island in Raja Ampat is regarded as one of the country’s most immense nickel potential, with approximately 240 million tonnes of mineral-bearing rock (ore) grading around 1.35 percent of nickel.
The First Nickel Mining in Gag Island
In 1996, a nickel mining company—PT Gag Nikel—was established to manage the mining in Gag Island. The company is a joint venture agreement between PT Aneka Tambang Tbk, Indonesia’s state-owned mining corporation, and BHP Billiton, an Australian multinational mining company.
An exploration program and initial evaluation started after a work contract was rewarded in 1998. However, the mining was halted because the woods in Gag Island were reclassified as one of the protected forests in West Papua, as stated in a forestry regulation implemented by the Indonesian government in 1999.
Mining Prosperity in Gag Island’s Nickel Mines
PT Gag Nikel company resumed mining in 2017, and now it has been 26 years they have been in the business. Many might assume that such an industry brings nothing but harm to the environment. While at some point it’s true, mainly when it’s conducted without considering the importance of environmental sustainability, it still brings fortune to the communities.
For the locals in Gag Island, the presence of nickel minings is like a wonder. More importantly, amid the pandemic where it hits hard, most people in Raja Ampat mostly rely on tourism to meet ends. But that’s not the case in Gag Island, for the nickel minings help lift the residents out of the unfortunate situation.
The company distributes PCR and viral transport medium systems to the local government during the pandemic. It doesn’t only end there; almost all mining workers are actually from the communities in Gag Island and other surrounding areas in Raja Ampat, West Papua.
It doesn’t only end there; there is a series of benefits the people obtain from the presence of a mining company. Through the Community Empowerment Program, children in the surrounding mining location can get an education in a proper school building.
Some of the underprivileged and brilliant students even receive a scholarship provided by the empowerment program of the PT Gag Nickel company. In addition, the mining activities also benefit the indigenous people in the Maya Tribe, Kawe, and Salio, for they obtain royalties as already regulated by the local government of Raja Ampat.
Mining Benefits to a Developed Society
Of course, we can’t disregard the downside of mining activities it caused to the environment. However, we can’t also neglect that such mining corporations also bring many economic benefits, particularly to those in a developed society.
The nickel mining activities in Gag Island help improve the quality of human resources in Gag Island, West Papua. They help the people obtain many decent aspects of life, including education, employment, health, infrastructure, and many more. Still, it’s everyone’s responsibility always to put the importance of conducting mining activities in a wise method.
