We, civil society organizations from Indonesia and South Korea, express our growing concern about the human rights and environmental impacts stemming from nickel production.
Nickel, a critical component of the electric vehicle battery supply chain, is primarily mined in Indonesia. As of 2023, Indonesia accounted for nearly half of global nickel production, with a significant portion of this mining concentrated in Southeast Sulawesi. For centuries, local communities in this region lived sustainably through fishing and farming. However, the rapid expansion of nickel mining has profoundly disrupted their traditional way of life, bringing environmental degradation and economic hardship.
In mining areas, deforestation and pollution are increasing, threatening the livelihoods of local communities. Waste from mining and smelting processes has severely polluted coastal waters, decimating marine ecosystems and depriving fishing communities of their primary source of income. Many are left with no choice but to depend on compensation from mining companies, which often proves insufficient—leaving them trapped in cycles of poverty.
Nickel mining has also exacerbated the risk of natural disasters. In North Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, deforestation has left the region increasingly vulnerable to floods. Annual flooding causes significant damage to local communities, worsening their living conditions and further highlighting the long-term consequences of unregulated resource extraction.
The Indonesian government is pursuing policies to promote downstream development in the nickel industry, aiming to boost domestic processing. However, emissions from smelting plants and coal-fired power stations have led to dangerous levels of air pollution, posing serious threats to public health. Furthermore, the expansion of these operations has resulted in land grabbing and water shortages, in many cases without obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of affected communities.
Meanwhile, South Korean corporations are increasing investments in securing raw materials for EV battery production and expanding battery manufacturing. Although the South Korean government has introduced various policies to support overseas resource development companies, it has taken no action to address the human rights and environmental issues occurring within their supply chains. Therefore, it is crucial for the South Korean government to actively promote the enactment of a ‘Supply Chain Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Law’ to prevent and respond to such issues effectively.
We demand that the governments and corporations of Indonesia and South Korea take the following actions:
Adopt policies to strengthen public transportation and reduce the number of vehicles by promoting alternative transportation options
Enact legislation in South Korea to ensure that all companies in the EV battery supply chain conduct human rights and environmental due diligence and are held accountable for preventing and addressing any violations.
Implement moratorium on issuing mining permits, especially for nickel extraction in Indonesia followed by urgent review and evaluation of national policy and plan on nickel mining and “downstreaming” industry development.
Ensure implementation of post-mining reclamation policy and environmental recovery affected by nickel mining and smelter industry in Indonesia.
The Indonesian government should strengthen law enforcement strictly on addressing the illegal and bad mining practices, ensuring accountability on deforestation, environmental degradation, human rights violations and remedy for affected communities, peasants, fisherfolk, women and indigenous people.
We recognize that electric vehicles alone do not guarantee a sustainable future. Addressing the root causes of the climate crisis requires acknowledging the broader impact of resource extraction on vulnerable communities and ecosystems. Nickel mining, which disrupts the lives of these communities and contributes to significant climate and environmental impacts, highlights the urgent need for more responsible and inclusive approaches. Countries committed to combating the climate crisis must ensure that human rights and environmental standards are upheld throughout their supply chains. Real climate solutions prioritize both people and the planet, ensuring accountability and long-term resilience.
2025 February 12
Advocate for Public Interest Law (APIL)
Climate Ocean Research Institute (CORI)
Institute for National and Democracy Studies (INDIES)
Pusat Kajian dan Advokasi Hak Asasi Manusia (PuSPAHAM) Sulawesi Tenggara
Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI) Sulawesi Tenggara
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