2) Govt assures multi-layered supervision of Raja Ampat's PT Gag Nikel
3) Freeport continues rescue mission at Grasberg underground site
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12 SEP 2025 4:16 AM AEST
1) Report: UK Firms Tied to Eco Damage in West Papua
Queen Mary University of London
The report, Bringing it All Back Home: The Role of British Companies in the Destruction of West Papua, is co-authored by Professor David Whyte and Samira Homerang Saunders from Queen Mary's School of Law. It presents the first comprehensive audit of British involvement in extractive industries and large-scale agriculture in the region.
The research details how UK financial institutions, corporations and investors are connected to deforestation, mining operations and gas production projects in West Papua, and considers the social and environmental consequences for Indigenous communities.
Key findings include:
British shareholders, including HSBC, Prudential, Legal & General and abrdn, are backing palm oil companies driving the world's largest ongoing deforestation project in Merauke.
UK financial institutions, such as Barclays and Rathbones, hold shares in Freeport-McMoRan, which operates Grasberg, the world's largest gold mine and second-largest copper mine. The mine discharges 300,000 tons of untreated waste into local rivers every day.
BP's Tangguh LNG facility in West Papua has displaced local villages, damaged mangrove forests and is estimated to generate more than 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon emissions.
The British government has also supported Indonesia through arms exports and military training linked to security operations in the region.
Professor David Whyte, Director of the Centre for Climate Crime and Climate Justice, said:
"British companies and shareholders are not innocent bystanders. They are profiting from a conflict that involves torture, extrajudicial killings and mass displacement. Until Papuans have control over their own resources, the cycle of repression and destruction will continue."
Samira Homerang Saunders, co-author of the report, said:
"This report shows that British involvement is not only driving environmental destruction but is also undermining the survival and dignity of Indigenous Papuan communities. Climate justice cannot be separated from human rights."
The report was launched in Parliament on Tuesday 9 September 2025 with support from parliamentarians and campaigners.
Read the full report:
Download Bringing it All Back Home (PDF)
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Tags: UK , university , Indonesia , conflict , British , director , corporate , Government , Queen , production , facility , Professor , Human Rights , Indigenous , Agriculture , Queen Mary University of London , carbon emissions , survival
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2) Govt assures multi-layered supervision of Raja Ampat's PT Gag Nikel
September 11, 2025 23:23 GMT+700
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq confirmed tighter monitoring of PT Gag Nikel's environmental management performance as the company resumes operations in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua.
He said an environmental audit had been conducted on PT Gag Nikel, which received a green rating under the Company Performance Assessment Program (PROPER).
"According to the directive from President Prabowo Subianto, company supervision must be multi-level. As we have been implementing this, we will regularly increase the frequency of visits to Gag," he remarked on Thursday.
Nurofiq explained that, in line with the president’s request to step up monitoring of mining activities on the small island, his office prepared an environmental audit as part of the company’s environmental approval.
"We have added more layers of monitoring, with additional components and variables of supervision. There will also be more frequent visits," he conveyed.
The government previously received public complaints about mining activities in Raja Ampat, a center of biodiversity with an ecosystem highly vulnerable to pollution risks.
As a response, the government revoked four mining business permits (IUP) in the district, as some operations were located within protected areas.
The four revoked IUPs belong to PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Nurham, PT Melia Raymond Perkasa, and PT Kawai Sejahtera.
Meanwhile, PT Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of PT Antam Tbk, temporarily suspended operations for environmental review and audit before resuming activities on Wednesday, September 3.
Earlier, PT Antam Tbk President Director Achmad Ardianto stressed that the company would not conduct any operations that violate good mining practices.
"In fact, I hope we can continue implementing good mining practices to make stronger contributions to the state," he noted.
He also confirmed that the Antam subsidiary has a work plan and budget (RKAB) for nickel production of three million wet metric tons, with production targets on track.
Related news: Gag Island mine: No environmental issues found in initial review
Related news: Nickel mining in Raja Ampat sparks heated debate
He said an environmental audit had been conducted on PT Gag Nikel, which received a green rating under the Company Performance Assessment Program (PROPER).
"According to the directive from President Prabowo Subianto, company supervision must be multi-level. As we have been implementing this, we will regularly increase the frequency of visits to Gag," he remarked on Thursday.
Nurofiq explained that, in line with the president’s request to step up monitoring of mining activities on the small island, his office prepared an environmental audit as part of the company’s environmental approval.
"We have added more layers of monitoring, with additional components and variables of supervision. There will also be more frequent visits," he conveyed.
The government previously received public complaints about mining activities in Raja Ampat, a center of biodiversity with an ecosystem highly vulnerable to pollution risks.
As a response, the government revoked four mining business permits (IUP) in the district, as some operations were located within protected areas.
The four revoked IUPs belong to PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Nurham, PT Melia Raymond Perkasa, and PT Kawai Sejahtera.
Meanwhile, PT Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of PT Antam Tbk, temporarily suspended operations for environmental review and audit before resuming activities on Wednesday, September 3.
Earlier, PT Antam Tbk President Director Achmad Ardianto stressed that the company would not conduct any operations that violate good mining practices.
"In fact, I hope we can continue implementing good mining practices to make stronger contributions to the state," he noted.
He also confirmed that the Antam subsidiary has a work plan and budget (RKAB) for nickel production of three million wet metric tons, with production targets on track.
Related news: Gag Island mine: No environmental issues found in initial review
Related news: Nickel mining in Raja Ampat sparks heated debate
Translator: Prisca Triferna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/379349/freeport-continues-rescue-mission-at-grasberg-underground-site
3) Freeport continues rescue mission at Grasberg underground site
September 11, 2025 17:52 GMT+700
Timika, Papua (ANTARA) - PT Freeport Indonesia’s Emergency Response Group (ERG) is still struggling to evacuate seven miners trapped in the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) underground mine in Tembagapura, Mimika, Central Papua, local authorities on Thursday.
Tembagapura Police Chief First Inspector Firman stated on Thursday that the company has deployed equipment to remove the wet mud that has inundated the GBC underground mine since Monday evening.
"Heavy equipment cannot enter the tunnel because as soon as it's lifted, the mud continues to flow forward. There's still a significant amount of mud," he explained.
In response, PT Freeport management is digging a new shaft to deliver food and establish communication with the seven workers trapped underground.
However, Firman said he could not confirm the condition of the miners.
"We don’t know their current state. Based on available information, there is a bunker within the tunnel that can be used for shelter. Hopefully, they’ve taken refuge there," he said.
He also could not verify whether two of the trapped workers are foreign nationals.
"There has been no official statement from PT Freeport," he added.
According to circulating reports in Timika, two of the trapped workers are foreign nationals—one from Chile and the other from Africa.
The names of the seven workers trapped in PT Freeport’s underground mine in Tembagapura are: Irwan, Wigih Hartono, Victor Manuel Bastida Ballesteros, Holong Gembira Silaban, Dadang Hermanto, Zaverius Magai, and Balisang Telile.
Previously, PT Freeport Indonesia’s VP of Corporate Communications, Katri Krisnati, stated in a written release that the company has not yet been able to establish contact with the miners.
As a result of the incident, PT Freeport has temporarily suspended all underground mining operations.
“We are continuing to focus all available resources on evacuating the seven contractor workers who remain unreachable due to the mudflow incident at the Grasberg Block Cave underground mine,” she confirmed.
Freeport management is also reportedly maintaining communication with the families of the trapped miners.
Related news: Rescue underway after mudflow traps 7 at Freeport's Grasberg mine
Related news: Freeport prioritizes Indonesia market despite US tariff break
Tembagapura Police Chief First Inspector Firman stated on Thursday that the company has deployed equipment to remove the wet mud that has inundated the GBC underground mine since Monday evening.
"Heavy equipment cannot enter the tunnel because as soon as it's lifted, the mud continues to flow forward. There's still a significant amount of mud," he explained.
In response, PT Freeport management is digging a new shaft to deliver food and establish communication with the seven workers trapped underground.
However, Firman said he could not confirm the condition of the miners.
"We don’t know their current state. Based on available information, there is a bunker within the tunnel that can be used for shelter. Hopefully, they’ve taken refuge there," he said.
He also could not verify whether two of the trapped workers are foreign nationals.
"There has been no official statement from PT Freeport," he added.
According to circulating reports in Timika, two of the trapped workers are foreign nationals—one from Chile and the other from Africa.
The names of the seven workers trapped in PT Freeport’s underground mine in Tembagapura are: Irwan, Wigih Hartono, Victor Manuel Bastida Ballesteros, Holong Gembira Silaban, Dadang Hermanto, Zaverius Magai, and Balisang Telile.
Previously, PT Freeport Indonesia’s VP of Corporate Communications, Katri Krisnati, stated in a written release that the company has not yet been able to establish contact with the miners.
As a result of the incident, PT Freeport has temporarily suspended all underground mining operations.
“We are continuing to focus all available resources on evacuating the seven contractor workers who remain unreachable due to the mudflow incident at the Grasberg Block Cave underground mine,” she confirmed.
Freeport management is also reportedly maintaining communication with the families of the trapped miners.
Related news: Rescue underway after mudflow traps 7 at Freeport's Grasberg mine
Related news: Freeport prioritizes Indonesia market despite US tariff break
Translator: Evarianus Supar, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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