JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has revoked the business licences of four nickel mining companies operating on the small islands within Raja Ampat, a Unesco site, for breaches related to a permit regulating forest use – it is the latest response to the discovery of illegal works in the country.

However, calls from the international environmental community for a full ban on mining activities in the world-renowned marine biodiversity site still persist.

On June 10, energy and mineral resources minister Bahlil Lahadalia told reporters after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto that the four firms in question were all in the first steps of operations, namely the exploration stage that involves identifying potential areas of nickel deposits.

Meanwhile, a fifth company, which is being looked into, has started production – this process involves concentrating, smelting and refining the nickel. It has been allowed to continue but is subject to strict monitoring from the government, said Mr Bahlil.

Waste water management systems and air pollution are monitored, among other things.

Apart from these five companies, there are other existing mining companies operating in Raja Ampat.

Indonesia’s 2014 coastal areas and small islands management law prohibits mining activities in islands of 2,000 sq km or smaller, like those in Raja Ampat. However, firms that meet certain austere requirements, including being able to give strong assurance that they will not affect the sea ecosystem, mangroves, reefs or any conservation areas, can be issued licences to carry out mining activities.

The four companies whose licences were revoked are PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, and PT Nurham, said Mr Bahlil. The investigations and breaches were related to the Forest Area Utilisation Approvals, also known as PPKH permits.

During the June 10 press conference, Mr Bahlil did not address questions related to why these firms were granted permits to operate in Raja Ampat.

Besides a mining business permit, firms need a PPKH permit, which, among its terms, allows miners to use allocated areas of forest and also requires that they must later replant the forest area they operate in.

China investor-owned PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, whose site is in the 746 ha Manuran island, allegedly operated without the required environmental management and waste water management systems.

PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, allegedly operated in a forest area bey...