Indonesia’s Mining Boom
- December 19, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Indonesia’s Mining Boom
Sub: Geo
Sec: Eco geo
Why in News
- Indonesia is witnessing a mining boom due to the global demand for critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, and bauxite, essential for the energy transition and industries like electric vehicle manufacturing. However, this rapid expansion has led to severe environmental degradation and socio-economic challenges for local communities, especially in small islands like Kabaena.
Impacts of Indonesia’s Mining Boom:
- Deforestation: Over 3,700 hectares (9,140 acres) of forest, including protected areas, have been cleared in Kabaena between 2001 and 2023.
- Water Pollution: Rivers and seawater in Kabaena are contaminated with hazardous mining by products, including nickel, lead, and cadmium, as revealed by lab studies.
- Marine Life Decline: Octopi, fish, and seaweed—critical to local diets and livelihoods—have disappeared due to pollution.
About Nickel, Cobalt, and Bauxite:
| Mineral | Details |
| Nickel | – Largest Producer: Indonesia (Global); Odisha, Jharkhand, Nagaland (India). |
| – Uses: Stainless steel (70% usage), EV batteries, aerospace, defense. | |
| – Key Fact: Over 40% of global demand is for EV batteries. | |
| Cobalt | – Largest Producer: DRC (Global); Odisha, Jharkhand, Rajasthan (India). |
| – Uses: EV batteries, aerospace alloys, medical devices, pigments. | |
| – Key Concern: Ethical issues in DRC due to artisanal mining. | |
| Bauxite | – Largest Producer: Australia (Global); Odisha, Gujarat, Jharkhand (India). |
| – Uses: Aluminum production, refractories, cement, abrasives. | |
| – Key Fact: India ranks 5th globally in bauxite production. |
Kabaena Island:
- Part of the Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia.
- Rich in natural resources, especially nickel, contributing to Indonesia’s mining boom.
- Environmental impact includes deforestation, sediment runoff, and loss of marine biodiversity (e.g., octopus, colourful fish).
Bajau People:
- Indigenous community traditionally reliant on the sea.
- Known as “Sea Nomads,” they depend on fishing and marine harvesting for sustenance.
- Skilled in free diving and building stilted houses near water.