Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia’s Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, conducted a working visit to PT Weda Bay Nickel (WBN), a mining company operating in Central Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province.
The visit is part of the government’s oversight and guidance for mining enterprises, aiming to strengthen environmental management in strategic industrial zones located within sensitive ecoregions.
PT WBN, which holds a Mining Business License (IUP) covering over 44,839 hectares, has been operational since 2019. As of 2024, approximately 3,099 hectares of land have been opened for mining activities.
During the visit, Minister Hanif focused his review on mine water management and waste treatment facilities.
One of the locations visited was the Kao Rahai Block, where Minister Hanif inspected the water management system, including the LDKR-02 settling pond, which functions to treat mine water before it is discharged into the environment. The water in the pond appeared clear and well-maintained.
“I see clean water, well-organized infrastructure—this shows that serious environmental management does yield results. This can serve as a reference for practices elsewhere,” said Minister Hanif in his official statement.
Minister Hanif also reviewed the domestic waste incinerator facility, which is used to manage household and operational waste generated by the company.
The incinerator is intended to reduce the burden on final disposal sites (TPA) and minimize the risk of environmental pollution. The Ministry of Environment/Environmental Management Agency (KLH/BPLH) emphasized the importance of monitoring combustion temperatures, emissions, and residual waste to ensure compliance with applicable environmental standards.
In addition to water and waste management, Minister Hanif also received information about the ecological conditions of the mining area, which is situated in ultrabasic rock and monsoon lowland zones—two ecoregions highly sensitive to land disturbances.
KLH/BPLH’s analysis indicates that while most of the mining area still performs important water regulation functions, there is a ±2,791-hectare zone with low water retention capacity, requiring improved drainage systems and land cover.
In response, Minister Hanif instructed that environmental rehabilitation efforts be accelerated. He emphasized the importance of early-stage revegetation using fast-growing native plant species that can prevent erosion, improve water infiltration, and expedite the recovery of ecological functions.
“Rehabilitation must begin as early as possible; there’s no need to wait for the entire site to be fully mined. Use native plant species that grow quickly, are easy to maintain, and can prevent erosion. The speed of land closure is critical in regions like this,” Minister Hanif stressed.
In terms of compliance, PT WBN updated its Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) in 2024 and received an Operational Feasibility Letter (SLO) for the Uni-Uni and Biri-Biri blocks.
Environmental quality monitoring is carried out through the digital SPARING system, with regular reporting via the SIMPEL platform managed by KLH/BPLH.
As a follow-up, KLH/BPLH will evaluate the progress of the Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans (RKL-RPL) and environmental quality monitoring, while also providing assistance to enhance land rehabilitation systems and digital reporting.
KLH/BPLH hopes that collaboration between environmental authorities and mining companies will continue to strengthen in pursuit of increasingly high green industry standards. (*)
