Mining goes on in Raja Ampat despite the public outcry

Seven months after a public outcry forced Indonesia to cancel some nickel-mining permits in Raja Ampat, one of the world's richest marine areas, the mining has not really stopped. Writing for Indonesia at Melbourne, Budiarti Putri argues the government's response was "performative governance," calming public anger without real change.

The numbers behind the outcry were huge. In just nine days, the #SaveRajaAmpat campaign produced thousands of news articles and tens of thousands of social media posts, almost all of them angry. In response, Jakarta revoked four mining licences. But the largest operator, the state-owned PT Gag Nikel, was never shut down, and no official cancellation letters have appeared despite requests from Greenpeace.

The evidence on the ground is discouraging. A December 2025 aerial survey by Greenpeace found no restoration work and the same discoloured water seen months earlier, with mining having cleared more than 500 hectares. One islander said a mining company was already looking at restarting work this year. The story, the author warns, shows how a government can look responsive while quietly letting the damage continue.

Why it matters

For the fishing and tourism communities of Raja Ampat, whether the mining truly stops decides the future of the reefs they live from. It is also a test of whether public pressure can force lasting change, or just a show of action. Watch whether the state actually shuts down the remaining mine, or lets operations quietly resume.