Weda Bay, a strategic source of ore and a major focus of the energy transition
Weda Bay Nickel, in which Eramet is a co-shareholder, is an integral part of the Group’s strategy to support the energy transition in a sustainable way by providing leading-edge solutions to meet the needs of the new metals era.
The Weda Bay Nickel mine, located on the island of Halmahera in northeast Indonesia, recently went into production in 2019. As part of a partnership with the Chinese steel group Tsingshan, the world’s leading producer of stainless steel and the majority shareholder of PT Weda Bay Nickel, Eramet brings its technical and operational expertise on the mining operations.
In line with its expertise and Eramet’s CSR roadmap, Weda Bay Nickel is committed to applying the best internationally-recognized mining techniques, including water management and revegetation. Weda Bay Nickel is committed to the development of a responsible mining industry. In 2023, the process of independent auditing of the IRMA standard began, with the first self-assessment carried out at the end of 2023.
As part of an ongoing dialogue with local communities and authorities, Weda Bay Nickel implements a contributory CSR program. Numerous impact initiatives have been carried out, notably in the fields of economic development, education, health and culture.
Ongoing dialogue with all stakeholders
Eramet started the exploration project on its own in 2006. The Group has engaged in an ongoing dialogue with all its stakeholders, in particular communities and authorities, with the aim of securing its social license to operate. To date, studies show that over 80% of the workforce at the industrial complex is from Halmahera or the North Moluccas province. The surrounding villages benefit from economic development associated with the project, both directly and indirectly.
In addition to maintaining a dialogue with the inhabitants of the coastal villages, WBN interacts with small nomadic groups, each consisting of a dozen or so people. Known as Forest Tobelo, or O Hongana Manyawa, they live in the interior of the island, and have developed lifestyles and cultural practices distinct from those of the other inhabitants. Many of them have visited the exploration camps from the outset of the project, and some still come to meet the teams today. Several anthropological studies carried out since 2010 with the support of international experts show that the Forest Tobelo do not live in coastal areas.
In the event of an encounter with the Tobelo Community, WBN has established clear rules for all its employees and subcontractors to interact with them in a respectful and culturally appropriate manner. The recommendation is that interactions should be kept to a minimum, and that communication should only take place if this Tobelo Community is open to it.
As part of the mine’s development on the concession, a new dedicated field study is underway in 2023. It is being conducted by a local anthropologist with specific expertise on these groups in Halmahera. This will help us to better understand the potential impact of the mine and ensure that we fully appreciate and respect these people’s way of life, in line with our Human Rights policy.
PT WBN has implemented an active engagement program with the Tobelos’ semi-nomadic com-munity, based on an ethnological due diligence carried out in 2010. PT WBN updated its knowledge in 2023. A field study, conducted under the guidance of an independent anthropologist from Khairun University in Ternate City (Indonesia), thus found that a group of 9 individuals belonging to this community lives within the perimeter of the mining concession and that specific groups also live outside the perimeter. All the groups maintain regular contact with local communities and do not live in isolation. PT WBN decide to deepen this work in 2024. An additional team of anthropologists should improve the understanding of the livelihoods of these groups and their interactions with ecosystem services. It should also roll-out a complementary engagement plan with the Tobelo community.
Bruno Faour
Eramet Indonesia Director
The development of our mining and metallurgical activities in Indonesia has demonstrated the importance we attach to employment, the environment and local development. It’s all part of the responsible mining we promote. We are now aiming to build a nickel and cobalt plant for the electric battery market, to meet the needs of the global energy transition.
Sonic Bay: a new plant for electric batteries
Because Eramet has access to natural resources and is committed to playing a responsible part in the development of electromobility, the Group has teamed up with BASF, a major German group, to plan the development of a hydrometallurgical complex in Halmahera, in order to transform the nickel and cobalt that are essential materials for the batteries used in electric vehicles.
