Popular Articles
Today Week Month Year


Global net zero efforts have fueled a nickel boom that is destroying Indonesia’s rainforests and coral reefs
By Olivia Cook // Sep 11, 2024

Indonesia, the world's largest nickel producer, is at the center of a global scramble for this essential metal that is leading to massive destruction of the country's rainforests and coral reefs.

Nickel is a crucial component of electric vehicle batteries, and the demand for it has soared as the world shifts away from fossil fuels. But beneath the surface of this booming industry lies a story of environmental destruction and social upheaval that is reshaping communities and ecosystems.

In Indonesia, nickel mining has surged to unprecedented levels. The country now accounts for 15 percent of the world's lateritic nickel resources, which are typically low-grade deposits found near the surface.

The International Energy Agency forecasts a 65 percent increase in global nickel demand by 2030, driven largely by the rise in electric vehicles. Indonesia has positioned itself as a key player in the nickel market.

This drive to harness nickel has attracted massive investments from global corporations. Over the past three years alone, Indonesia has signed over $15 billion in deals with major companies like Foxconn, Hyundai and LG to supply nickel for batteries and EV production.

This influx of capital has led to the construction of large-scale nickel smelters and processing plants, particularly the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park in the island of Sulawesi. The new nickel smelter is a colossal facility capable of processing 13 million tons of nickel ore annually.

The transformation of Sulawesi – an island known for its stunning coral reefs and prehistoric cave paintings – into an industrial hub is a striking example of how quickly local landscapes can change under the pressure of global net zero demand.

Expansion of nickel mining harming environmental and human health

The environmental impact of nickel mining is severe. Facilities like PT Obsidian Stainless Steel in Sulawesi operate around the clock, emitting pollutants into the air. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and coal ash – particles finer than beach sand – are among the pollutants released. (Related: "Green energy" mining is polluting rivers and farmland at an unsustainable pace, leaving 23 million people exposed to toxic waste.)

The pollution extends beyond air quality. Fishermen are facing increasingly dire conditions as nickel pollution degrades the waters they rely on. The once-rich fishing grounds are now murky, with fish stocks dwindling and fish moving away from polluted areas.

Aiwi, a 78-year-old local fisherman, described the impact. "There are no fish here anymore," he said, adding that children in his village are suffering from respiratory problems due to the severe air pollution.

The environmental destruction caused by nickel mining is extensive. Large areas of forest are cleared to make way for mining operations and open-pit mines are dug into the earth. This deforestation destabilizes the land, making it more prone to erosion and flooding. In 2022 alone, Southeast Sulawesi experienced at least 21 floods and mudslides, significantly more than the two to three per year recorded before the mining boom began.

Rivers and streams also became contaminated with heavy metals and other pollutants, affecting both aquatic life and human health. The local population is left to deal with the fallout of these environmental impacts – facing challenges, such as damaged land and polluted water.

The nickel mining boom in Indonesia serves as a stark reminder of the trade-offs involved in the global transition to cleaner energy sources. While the shift to electric vehicles and renewable energy is said to be crucial for reducing greenhouse emissions, it is essential to address the accompanying environmental and social impacts. This includes implementing stricter environmental regulations to preserve crucial ecosystems and prevent massive pollution.

Watch this short clip of a massive gathering in Belgrade, Serbia, protesting against a lithium mining project that could cause massive environmental damage to a region in northwestern Serbia.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Mining for "clean energy" minerals has left more than 23 million people exposed to TOXIC WASTE in their water, environment.

STUDY: Deep-sea mining for EV metals can slash ocean animal populations in half.

Car companies are expanding into the lithium mining business to secure their supplies for EV manufacturing.

GREEN SHORTAGE: Lack of lithium preventing Indonesia from becoming a global hub for EVs.

Cobalt market notes highest supply jump on record as Indonesia becomes biggest global source outside of Africa.

Sources include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

Telegraph.co.uk

Alternatives-Humanitaires.org

CarbonCredits.com

ThePeoplesMap.net

News.Mongabay.com

Brighteon.com



Take Action:
Support NewsTarget by linking to this article from your website.
Permalink to this article:
Copy
Embed article link:
Copy
Reprinting this article:
Non-commercial use is permitted with credit to NewsTarget.com (including a clickable link).
Please contact us for more information.
Free Email Alerts
Get independent news alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science, robotics, drones, privacy and more.

NewsTarget.com © 2022 All Rights Reserved. All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. NewsTarget.com is not responsible for content written by contributing authors. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. NewsTarget.com assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms and those published on this site. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.

This site uses cookies
News Target uses cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using this site, you agree to our privacy policy.
Learn More
Close
Get 100% real, uncensored news delivered straight to your inbox
You can unsubscribe at any time. Your email privacy is completely protected.