The local communities continue to struggle to protect their lives, including their farmland and clean water, from PT Vale Indonesia’s (PTVI) nickel expansion project in Indonesia. At the same time, serious human rights violations continue against the farmers who are demanding that their farmlands be excluded from the mining concessions.

Today, PARC, together with the Indonesian Environmental Forum (WALHI) South Sulawesi and others, submitted a letter to the major shareholders of its parent company, Vale (Capital Group, Previ, Mitsui & Co., BlackRock), and PTVI (Sumitomo Metal Mining, Government of Norway). In the letter (endorsed by 104 organizations, including those working at international and regional levels plus organizations working nationally in 23 countries) , we request for engagement with PTVI to take prompt and appropriate measures to protect the human rights of local communities affected by Sorowako Nickel Project.

For more than 50 years since the nickel development by PT Vale Indonesia (formerly PT INCO) started in Sorowako, local community, including indigenous people, farmers, fisherfolk, women, have faced a wide range of problems in the development site of its vast concession area (70,566 hectares). In recent years, as the demand for battery materials has increased as part of efforts to achieve a decarbonized society, the pressure for development in Sorowako, ranging from plans to build a new smelter to exploration and expansion of the mine, has rather increased, and the concerns and problems faced by the local community also continue to grow.

Since the PTVI has caused serious impacts on the community’s livelihood and water source, the community have been raising their voice to PTVI. However, the company has failed to take appropriate and immediate action to address these issues to date. The involvement of Indonesian authorities, including the police and military, in attempts to silence the community, is also greatly concerned and a serious violation of human rights.

For local communities affected by the Sorowako Nickel project to be able to continue farming, to maintain a healthy life, and to freely express opposition and concern – all of these are basic human rights. Vale and PTVI’s major shareholders must take responsible action in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to ensure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

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