PT Vale Indonesia Denies Land Grab in East Luwu (bahasa Indonesia)

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta—PT Vale Indonesia's Head of Communication, Bayu Aji, has denied that his company is said to have grabbed the land of indigenous people in East Luwu Regency. The reason is that PT Vale is a public company and is bound by applicable laws and regulations in Indonesia and internationally.

"Vale has never taken the rights of other parties," Bayu Aji told Tempo on Thursday evening, December 15, 2022.

Previously, it was reported that the Padoe indigenous people in East Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi, were worried. This is because the concession area of nickel mining companies in the region continues to expand. Customary land began to be claimed by mining companies. "We knew our territory was invaded by PT Vale Indonesia when there were stakes," said Ameria Sinta, a Padoe indigenous community member when met at her house, Saturday, August 27, 2022.

Bayu Aji emphasized that his company highly values the existence of communities in the operational area. This is in line with the company's values that respect the earth and people. So, he said, Vale is very obedient to the rules and upholds the existence of legal grounds. Bayu also ensures that all land managed and included in the concession has complete documents.

Bayu mentioned a special concession area in Sorowako, South Sulawesi, covering 70,566 hectares. This is because the amendment to PT Vale's contract of work signed on October 17, 2014 was the result of an agreement in renegotiations with the Indonesian government.