Investigasi: Jejak pencemaran lingkungan tambang nikel di Pulau Obi, Maluku Utara | @DWPlanetA

Summary

This investigative report unveils the dark truth behind a major nickel mining company, Harita, one of the largest in the world. While promoting itself as a sustainable and environmentally friendly business, internal emails and leaked documents expose the company's deliberate concealment of severe environmental pollution from its operations. The company, which supplies nickel for electric car batteries, misled investors and local residents about dangerous levels of toxic substances like chromium hexavalent. Despite this, global demand for nickel continues to fuel their expansion, raising critical questions about corporate responsibility and environmental accountability.

Takeaways

• 😀 Harita is one of the world's largest nickel mining companies, responsible for producing 6% of global nickel, crucial for electric vehicle batteries.
• 😀 Despite presenting itself as an environmentally responsible company, Harita has been hiding serious environmental violations, particularly water contamination.
• 😀 Internal emails and reports show that Harita has known for years about the harmful effects of its operations, including toxic chromium (CR6) in local water sources.
• 😀 Harita's mining activities have led to high levels of carcinogenic heavy metals, but the company has actively concealed this information from the public and investors.
• 😀 In 2013, internal documents revealed chromium hexavalent (CR6) levels in wastewater at 3.5 times the legal limit, yet the company failed to disclose this to local residents or authorities.
• 😀 Local residents have suffered from the pollution, with contaminated water sources affecting their health and daily lives, forcing them to use unsafe water for daily activities.
• 😀 Harita misled investors during its 2022 IPO by claiming no pollution occurred, even though internal reports showed clear contamination risks.
• 😀 The company has been involved in suppressing pollution data, with a study funded by Harita showing high levels of heavy metals in local fish, which it wanted to keep confidential.
• 😀 Harita's mine in Obi Island faces serious environmental hazards, including the collapse risk of nickel tiling piles, which could lead to catastrophic consequences.
• 😀 Harita's nickel is a key component in the battery supply chain for electric vehicles, but there is limited transparency in its involvement with global car manufacturers, including Tesla and BYD.
• 😀 Harita is under ongoing environmental audits, and while legal action is being considered, the company’s actions have sparked protests from local communities demanding compensation and remediation.

Q & A

What secret was Harita, the nickel mining company, hiding for more than a decade?

Harita was hiding the environmental damage caused by its mining activities, particularly the pollution of local water sources with toxic substances like chromium hexavalent (CR6), a carcinogenic substance.

How has Harita misled the public and investors about its environmental practices?

Harita misled the public and investors by claiming it conducted routine environmental tests and adhered to legal pollution limits, while internal documents show that the company was aware of significant pollution, including hazardous levels of CR6 in water and fish.

What is the role of nickel in the electric vehicle (EV) industry?

Nickel is a crucial component in lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in electric vehicles. As the demand for EVs grows, so does the need for nickel, making it an increasingly important resource.

Why is Indonesia strategically important for the global nickel supply?

Indonesia is home to one of the largest reserves of nickel, producing more than half of the world's supply. The Indonesian government has prioritized not only mining nickel but also developing a domestic battery industry.

What environmental violations has Harita been accused of?

Harita has been accused of causing serious pollution, including the release of toxic substances like CR6 into the environment. Despite internal tests showing dangerous contamination, Harita hid this information and continued operations without notifying affected communities.

What was the impact of CR6 contamination on local communities?

Local communities, particularly those relying on water sources near the mine, were affected by polluted water, which had toxic levels of CR6. Many residents reported health issues, including stomach problems from contaminated drinking water.

How did Harita respond to allegations of pollution during their 2022 IPO?

Harita denied the pollution allegations, claiming their water tests were compliant with regulations. They also publicly downplayed concerns by distributing a press release featuring the company's director drinking from a spring, despite the ongoing contamination issues.

How has Harita's mining activity affected the local fish population?

Harita's mining operations have caused high levels of heavy metals to accumulate in fish around Obi Island, making it unsafe for local communities to rely on fish for food. The company has attempted to suppress the full results of studies showing this contamination.

What legal and public health concerns arise from Harita's actions?

Harita's actions have led to concerns about long-term public health risks due to the contamination of drinking water and local food sources. The company’s failure to address these issues could result in legal actions and significant public health consequences.

What are the potential consequences for Harita if the pollution allegations are proven true?

If the pollution allegations are proven true, Harita could face criminal, civil, and administrative sanctions. Legal action could lead to compensation for affected residents and a requirement to clean up the environmental damage.