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AP: Indonesia's massive metals build-out is felling the forest for batteries
https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-nickel-deforestation-rainforest-mining-tesla-ev-184550cddf1df6aad8e883862ab366dfIndonesia’s massive metals build-out is felling the forest for batteries
BY VICTORIA MILKO, ED DAVEY AND CAMILLE FASSETT
Updated 9:10 PM EDT, July 15, 2024
LELILEF SAWAI, Indonesia (AP) — On a steep trek up to his forest farm on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, Librek Loha let out a cry of dismay. “Aduuuuh,” he said, his voice trailing off.
“Landslides, again. They happen all the time now.”
The mudslide below Loha’s plantings of cacao, nutmeg and pineapple have exposed more orange, rocky soil — adding to miles of bulldozed forest and river that are leaving the farm an island of green amid red-brown. Where trees once grew, there are dusty warehouses, mountains of black coal and water that runs silty brown.
This region of Weda Bay is now one of the world’s largest nickel production facilities. Fiery smelters and multiple coal-fired power plants burn nonstop to refine nickel ore into material for batteries and steel.
…
BY VICTORIA MILKO, ED DAVEY AND CAMILLE FASSETT
Updated 9:10 PM EDT, July 15, 2024
LELILEF SAWAI, Indonesia (AP) — On a steep trek up to his forest farm on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, Librek Loha let out a cry of dismay. “Aduuuuh,” he said, his voice trailing off.
“Landslides, again. They happen all the time now.”
The mudslide below Loha’s plantings of cacao, nutmeg and pineapple have exposed more orange, rocky soil — adding to miles of bulldozed forest and river that are leaving the farm an island of green amid red-brown. Where trees once grew, there are dusty warehouses, mountains of black coal and water that runs silty brown.
This region of Weda Bay is now one of the world’s largest nickel production facilities. Fiery smelters and multiple coal-fired power plants burn nonstop to refine nickel ore into material for batteries and steel.
…