Harita Nickel leads human rights audit in North Maluku mining sector

A human rights audit conducted by the SETARA Institute for Democracy and Peace and the Sustainable-Inclusive Governance Initiative (SIGI) has assessed the governance of nickel mining companies in North Maluku. The audit, titled ‘Human Rights Audit on Nickel Sector Companies in North Maluku: Building a Foundation for Responsible Mining’, evaluated five major companies between February and July 2026.

Harita Nickel (PT Trimegah Bangun Persada Tbk) achieved the highest score of 63.60, placing it in the ‘Established’ category. Its performance was attributed to comprehensive sustainability policies, Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) implementation, the use of Dry Stack Tailing Facilities (DSTF), and participation in international audits through the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA).

Other companies showed varying levels of maturity. State-owned enterprise PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTAM) scored 58.24, placing it in the ‘Improving’ category. PT Weda Bay Nickel (WBN) scored 41.76, PT Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) scored 41.12, and PT Wanatiara Persada scored 40.72, which falls into the ‘Basic’ category. While companies are developing ESG structures and safety systems, the report noted gaps in implementation, transparency, and accountability toward affected communities.