From Mine to Battery: Carbon Footprints, Toxic Waste, and Inequality Behind Indonesia’s Nickel Industry

Noor Aiman Syahmi

doi:10.65815/9743s751

Authors

Noor Aiman Syahmi Universitas Muhammadiyah Sorong Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65815/9743s751

Keywords:

critical minerals, nickel, HPAL, toxic waste, environmental justice

Abstract

The global energy transition has intensified demand for nickel as a critical mineral for battery technologies, positioning Indonesia as a major supplier within emerging electric vehicle supply chains. This development is frequently presented as evidence of green industrial transformation. However, the environmental costs embedded in nickel production challenge the assumption that critical-mineral extraction is inherently compatible with climate goals. This article examines the ecological footprint of Indonesia’s nickel industry by tracing the chain from mining and processing to battery-oriented production. It focuses particularly on carbon emissions, tailings, hazardous waste, water contamination, ecosystem degradation, and potential impacts on community health. Special attention is given to high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL), a processing technology associated with the production of substantial quantities of waste and complex environmental management challenges. The article argues that assessing the sustainability of the battery economy requires moving beyond the emissions profile of electric vehicles and considering the full material and ecological life cycle of their components. From this perspective, the discourse of “critical minerals” can conceal unequal environmental burdens concentrated in producing regions. The study concludes that a genuinely sustainable energy transition must integrate resource justice, stronger waste governance, community participation, and life-cycle accountability across global battery supply chains.

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