The plan to exploit nickel reserves on Gag Island is contentious. The island lies within Raja Ampat’s conservation area, a globally significant biodiversity hotspot. Yet beneath its rich ecosystems lie laterite nickel deposits now coveted in the race to supply electric vehicle batteries. The conflict, therefore, is not merely between ecology and economy, or between local communities and corporate interest—it’s also a fight over narrative control in Indonesia’s digital sphere. To subscribe please click here
