Down to Earth No. 70, August 2006
A dramatic rise in the price of nickel is prompting the development of a major new nickel mine in Sulawesi. What will be the impacts for local people and their environment?
The Indonesian government and Anglo-Australian mining multinational Rio Tinto are negotiating the terms of a contract to develop the La Sampala nickel deposit on the borders of Southeast and Central Sulawesi. Spokesman for Rio Tinto in Indonesia, Anang R Noor, said the company plans to invest US$1 billion in the project.