Exploring a social geology approach in eastern Indonesia: What are mining territories?

Maribeth Erb*, Adonara Elizabeth Mucek, Kathryn Robinson

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    11 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In this paper we suggest it is essential for development planners to utilize a social geology approach in making decisions on mining concessions. This is especially so in newly decentralizing democracies, such as Indonesia, where political decisions on natural resource extraction are often subject to accusations of corruption. We investigate several sites in different provinces in eastern Indonesia, where social consequences are constrained by geology and technology for mining minerals. On Flores Island, in the East Nusa Tenggara province, manganese is found as volcanic-hosted manganese layers, requiring heavy machinery from large mining companies, while in the same province, on Timor Island, sedimentary-hosted manganese, found in softer soils, can be mined by local communities. Political decentralization, fears of environmental destruction, and concerns over mining concessions resulted in resistance growing in the province, especially where companies mine without much benefit felt by local communities. We compare mining in East Nusa Tenggara province with mining in Sulawesi, long known for nickel and gold, where small-scale gold mining boomed in the past decade. We argue taking a social geology approach is the only way to fully understand mineral resources and to develop effective, efficient, and safe policies for the benefit of local and regional actors.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)89-103
    Number of pages15
    JournalExtractive Industries and Society
    Volume8
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2021

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Exploring a social geology approach in eastern Indonesia: What are mining territories?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this