Conflict Heats Up in Local Parliament; Community Demands Concentrator Plant Be Built Locally, Challenging ESG Commitments of Indonesia’s Major Mining Investment.
The plan for the expansion of copper and gold mining by PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMNT) in the Elang Dodo and Rinti Blocks concession in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), has escalated into an open conflict. The Sumbawa Menggugat Communication Forum (FKSM) and the Village Head Communication Forum (FK2D) have firmly rejected the project, arguing that the actual economic benefits for Sumbawa are not commensurate with the environmental and social risks.
This project, which involves one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper deposits, is now confronted with a fundamental question posed by the local community: “What does Sumbawa get?”. This conflict is a critical test case for the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) commitments of major investments in Indonesia.
The Threat of New Economic Colonialism
The unrest among the Sumbawa community centers on issues of inequality and transparency, which local figures describe as a form of new-age colonialism.
Infrastructure Concentration: Currently, all strategic mining infrastructure of PT AMNT is centralized in West Sumbawa Regency (KSB). Sumbawa, as the direct impact area of the Elang Block, has yet to receive commensurate economic benefits.
The “Reject Mining” Cry: Public figures and Sumbawa cultural leaders have strongly advocated to “REJECT MINING,” labeling the activity as a new form of colonialism that leaves social scars and divides the community.
Parliamentary Pressure: Sumbawa DPRD member Muhammad Zain SIP acknowledged the council’s moral responsibility, stating that if the project is “not beneficial for Sumbawa, then shut it down!“.
Testing ESG Principles: The Reality Gap
PT AMNT has affirmed its commitment to ESG principles and major investment in sustainability. However, the community’s demands on the ground reveal a serious gap between corporate rhetoric and local reality.
FPIC Demands: Indigenous communities have questioned the transparency of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and demand active participation from residents in accordance with the FPIC (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent) principle—an international standard for projects affecting indigenous territories—due to ancestral burial sites within the concession.
Local Facilities Demand: The FK2D has specifically demanded that the NTB Provincial Government mandate the construction of a smelter, concentrator plant, and other primary processing facilities within Sumbawa Regency, not just West Sumbawa. This is a concrete demand for equitable development.
The Three Non-Negotiable Points
The Public Hearing (RDP) at the Sumbawa DPRD resulted in a clear consensus that must become the non-negotiable condition for the continuation of the Elang Project.
Three Non-Negotiable Public Conditions:
- Production Transparency: PT AMNT must provide a clear picture of production results and how they will directly benefit the Sumbawa community.
- Concentrator Construction: There must be assurance that the primary processing facility (concentrator plant) is built within Sumbawa territory to create an economic multiplier effect (jobs and retribution).
- Social & Environmental Audit: The Provincial Government must review all mining permits, prioritizing environmental carrying capacity, water resources, and the sustainability of community life.
The Elang Block is a major gamble for Indonesia. If this giant mining project, rich in mineral reserves, fails to deliver economic and social justice to the local community, it will not only damage AMNT’s reputation but also send a negative signal to global investors regarding the risks associated with ESG and resource sovereignty issues within the country.
Credible Source Links (Embedded in Indonesian Text):
- Amar Media: Adu Argumen di DPRD: Masyarakat Sumbawa Tolak Eksploitasi Tambang Elang Dodo, Desak Kejelasan Manfaat!
- Fokus NTB: Soal Operasi Tambang PT.AMNT di Blok Elang-Dodo Rinti, FK2D di Sumbawa Sampaikan Pernyataan Sikap
- bidikankameranews: Soroti Keberadaan PT. AMNT, Lembaga Sumbawa Menggugat Gelar FGD “Sumbawa dapat apa?”
- postkotantb: Nurdin Ranggabarani Lantang Serukan “TOLAK TAMBANG” di Tana Samawa
The Editorial Team
