The Growing Disconnect Between Mining Giants’ Global Sustainability Claims and Unresolved Grassroots Social Issues in Indonesia.
PT AMMAN Mineral (AMMAN), a major copper and gold mining giant in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), consistently claims it adheres to global ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) standards and utilizes advanced technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for operational excellence.
The Core Contradiction: This scenario represents peak ESG Schizophrenia. AMMAN, a company touting cutting-edge AI and advanced processing, continues to face fundamental, unresolved social challenges: long-standing land conflicts, unresolved compensation claims, and disputes with local and indigenous communities in West Sumbawa.
The Failure of AI to Resolve Social Debt (S in ESG)
The company’s high-tech claims are primarily focused on E (Environmental efficiency) and G (Governance structure), leaving the S (Social) factor critically exposed.
• The Tech vs. The Promise: AMMAN must demonstrate that its advanced technology is used to promote justice, not just efficiency.
• The Land Dispute Failure: The company is continuously involved in land compensation disputes, with allegations that payments for the smelter land release were misdirected, sometimes involving deceased individuals.
• Indigenous Rights: The struggle of the Cek Bocek indigenous community against AMMAN highlights the ongoing denial of customary rights and collective identity—a core ESG risk that AI cannot solve. If the AI optimizes ore recovery, but fails to optimize social equity, the ESG claim is void.
From Corporate Pride to Global Scrutiny
The failure to resolve these localized social conflicts in West Sumbawa carries global consequences for AMMAN’s reputation and financial stability:
The Challenge: AMMAN must prove its investment in AI technology also includes investment in transparent social audit systems to ensure that multi-million dollar Community Development and Empowerment programs (PPM/CSR) are not corrupted or mismanaged
Global Condemnation: Social conflicts have drawn attention from global activist organizations, who warn that unresolved issues could threaten AMMAN’s international credibility and certifications, such as The Copper Mark.
The Amnesty Risk: Previous operations in the area have faced scrutiny related to human rights concerns and failed post-mining programs. This legacy means AMMAN is constantly under a spotlight.
Conclusion: Ending the Schizophrenia
The case of AMMAN Mineral in West Sumbawa is a harsh lesson for all multinational companies operating in developing nations:
• The AI Mandate: Advanced technology and AI should be employed to resolve historical social debt, not just to extract more mineral wealth.
• The True Benchmark: The true measure of AMMAN’s ESG success is not the efficiency of its smelter, but the resolution of the land conflicts and the satisfaction of the communities that surround the mine.
The ESG Schizophrenia will only end when AMMAN’s commitment to social justice on the ground matches its technological claims in the boardroom.
Sources:
- <a href=”https://sumbawanews.com/berita/amanda-sumbawa-pola-lama-amnt-dan-denial-adat-kian-terbongkar/“>Sumbawanews – Konflik Masyarakat Adat Cek Bocek dan AMNT</a>
- <a href=”https://www.samawarea.com/2022/04/tak-terima-ganti-rugi-pembebasan-lahan-smelter-pemiliknya-tuntut-pt-amman-mineral/“>Samawa Rea – Sengketa Ganti Rugi Lahan Smelter AMNT</a>
- <a href=”https://okjakarta.com/2025/08/bongkar-skandal-pt-amman-mineral-tambang-raksasa-janji-manis-dan-luka-panjang-sumbawa-barat/“>Okjakarta – Dugaan Penggusuran dan Dampak Lingkungan Tambang AMNT</a>
- <a href=”https://bidikankameranews.com/2025/05/19/alam-dikeruk-csr-tidak-jelas-pt-amnt-lanjut-ke-fase-8-batu-hijau/“>Bidikan Kamera News – Kritik CSR dan Isu Pekerja Lokal AMNT</a>
- <a href=”https://www.amman.co.id/id/artikel/amman-raih-penghargaan-tertinggi-asean-praktik-pengolahan-mineral-terbaik“>AMMAN Website – Klaim Praktik Pengolahan Mineral Terbaik</a>
- <a href=”https://www.amman.co.id/id/artikel/membangun-masa-depan-tambang-kisah-inovasi-teknologi-amman“>AMMAN Website – Klaim Inovasi Teknologi dan AI</a>
- <a href=”https://www.amman.co.id/article/building-the-future-of-mining-amman-s-journey-of-technological-innovation“>AMMAN Website – Klaim Adopsi Teknologi dan AI (Bahasa Inggris)</a>
- <a href=”https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20221122040236-12-876790/amnesty-minta-amman-mineral-ditutup-terkait-dugaan-pelanggaran-ham“>CNN Indonesia – Dugaan Pelanggaran HAM dan Program Pascatambang AMNT</a>
- <a href=”https://katadata.co.id/berita/energi/636d1d289d06f/dituding-buang-limbah-ratusan-ribu-ton-ke-laut-ini-respons-amman“>Katadata – Isu Pembuangan Limbah Tailing ke Laut</a>
