‘We cannot be fooled anymore’: lessons from a mining field trip in Indonesia

Nickel has become one of the most sought-after minerals of our time. Used for stainless steel and the batteries powering electric vehicles (EVs), demand is soaring as countries push for a low-carbon transition. Yet behind the promise of ‘green’ technology lies a dilemma: in Indonesia – the world’s largest nickel producer – mining threatens tropical forests, rivers and coastal waters and the communities who depend on them. 

Header photo: Mining on Tompotika. © Stephanie Broekaerts / IUCN NL

In Central Sulawesi’s Tompotika peninsula, home to rare wildlife such as the Critically Endangered Maleo bird and where dozens of villages rely on healthy forests and seas, nickel companies are pressing in. Until recently, many communities viewed mining as an unquestioned path to prosperity. Companies promised jobs, infrastructure and donations for schools and mosques, and investment was framed as progress. But promises on paper are different from realities on the ground. And sometimes, the most powerful way to learn is to see for yourself. 

A journey to Morowali 

Earlier this year, our partner AlTo (Alliance for Tompotika Conservation) organised a study trip for 21 local leaders from Tompotika to North Morowali, a day’s journey away. Morowali is one of Indonesia’s hotspots of nickel mining, home to vast industrial parks and dozens of active concessions. What Tompotika villagers feared might arrive in their forests and coasts was already visible in Morowali. 

The group included village heads, community representatives and members of newly formed youth-led environmental groups. Many had never questioned the expansion of mining before. Guided by AlTo’s mining outreach coordinator, Thusi Bonandito, they spent several days visiting villages affected by mining, speaking with officials, residents and mine workers.  

Two sides of the same story

At first, the benefits were on display. In one mining village, the government office gleamed – a two-storey building, a private office for each village official. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from the mine amounted to tens of thousands of dollars every few months. The village head proudly showed off his new two-storey house and three cars, all purchased in just two years. For the visiting leaders from Tompotika, the wealth was tempting. Some admitted later that, for a moment, it ‘disturbed their thinking.’ 

But then came the other side of the story. Teachers explained how polluted rivers forced children to bathe in contaminated water, and residents spoke of dust-filled air and illnesses. Mine workers themselves told the visitors: ‘At first, we were glad. The wages were good. But now the river is polluted, fish and crabs are gone, and we have to buy water. Higher wages mean little if life becomes harder.’ 

Others warned of legal risks. Legislators described village heads prosecuted for issuing false land titles to mining companies. ‘Be careful,’ one told the group, ‘the bribes may look attractive, but they can destroy your community.’ 

A turning point

On the road back to Tompotika, conversations in the bus were animated. Leaders who had been skeptical about conservation began voicing their fears. ‘Everywhere we went,’ one said, ‘the same problems: polluted water, destroyed forests and mangroves, dust.’ Another admitted he had joined the trip only reluctantly, but now was thankful: ‘Without this visit, in our village we would have been blind. Now, we cannot be fooled anymore.’ One village head declared openly that he would refuse mining permits, even if it cost him his position. Others echoed the message: better to defend forests and water now, than regret it later. 

For many, the turning point was realising that mining’s benefits were temporary, while the damage to ecosystems and livelihoods was lasting. And amid the discussions, voices reminded them that forests are not only about water and soil. ‘If the forest is destroyed,’ one said, ‘the Maleo and other wildlife will vanish. And their loss will hurt people too.’ 

The giant awakens

Local media picked up the story, and for the first time, mining companies are being forced onto the defensive. In July, provincial legislators visited Siuna, one of Tompotika’s first mining areas, and criticised the destruction of roads, mangroves, and waterways. Even the Bupati (regent) of the area, once a supporter of mining, convened officials and scolded them for environmental damage. The governor of Central Sulawesi, himself long a mining advocate, felt compelled to state publicly that he ‘backs up’ these concerns. The giant of public opinion, once silent, is beginning to stir. 

Why this matters

The story unfolding in Tompotika and Morowali illustrates the global dilemma around nickel. The mineral is needed for the energy transition, yet extraction often undermines the very climate and biodiversity goals it is meant to serve. 

‘For local communities, the question is urgent: short-term profits or long-term survival?’ says Marcy Summers from AlTo. ‘The voices from Morowali show that without safeguards, transparency and respect for local communities’ rights, mining leaves behind pollution, conflict and inequality. So, building awareness and solidarity at the community level is essential. A single field trip can change the minds of leaders who shape decisions for thousands of people. And once public opinion moves, politicians and companies must respond.’ 

Looking ahead

In the months ahead, AlTo and partners will continue to support Tompotika communities with legal advice, advocacy and capacity building. The fight is far from over: permits have already been issued for parts of Tompotika, and national demand for nickel shows no sign of slowing. But there is hope. By ‘awakening the giant’ of informed public opinion, communities are finding the courage to say no when promises of quick wealth arrive at their doorstep. They are choosing to defend forests, water and wildlife over mining destruction and short-term benefits. As one village head put it, after returning from Morowali: ‘Now we understand what mining does to nature and people. We must protect our forests and refuse mining.’ 

This article is part of IUCN NL’s ongoing work to highlight the voices of frontline communities in Indonesia and beyond, who are defending biodiversity and livelihoods in the face of extractive pressures. 

Just energy transition 

IUCN NL works towards a just energy transition, where the negative impact on people and nature is as small as possible. We do this within our projects  Forests for a Just Future and Bottom Line! 

Read more about nickel mining on Sulawesi

• https://www.iucn.nl/en/story/nickel-mining-for-energy-transition-could-destroy-unique-indonesian-forest/
• https://www.iucn.nl/en/blog/nickel-mine-exploitation-threats-to-sulawesis-natural-environment/
• https://www.iucn.nl/en/news/nickel-rush-in-indonesia-deforestation-rates-double-around-nickel-processing-plants/