Harita Nickel Supports North Maluku Regional Government in Human Resources Development
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - One of the vision and mission priorities of the North Maluku Provincial Government (Malut) is the transformation of quality human resources (SDM), particularly in the fields of education and vocational skills. This naturally requires support from various parties, including the private sector and industry players.
Harita Nickel, as a nickel downstream processing operator that operates in the North Maluku region, particularly on Obi Island, South Halmahera, supports the achievement of this vision and mission through skills improvement of productive-age SDM in the PELITA (Youth Skills Enhancement Programme) vocational programme.
This programme entered its fourth cohort this year, demonstrating its consistent and sustainable implementation. In this programme, 40 young people from Obi Island are undergoing certified overhead crane operator training as part of the company’s efforts to build workforce readiness aligned with the operational needs of the nickel downstream processing industry.
The programme aims to enhance vocational skills among the people of Obi Island, North Maluku, enabling them to be absorbed into the nickel mining and processing industries.
As noted, the Central Statistics Agency of North Maluku Province reported that as of February 2026, only 25.23% of workers have been absorbed into the processing industry sector (which includes nickel ore processing). This indicates a skills gap, with North Maluku’s population not optimally absorbed into the formal sector.
PELITA is a vocational initiative by Harita Nickel designed to equip young local people with skills aligned to the mining industry’s needs. Training encompasses heavy equipment operation through to Mandarin language proficiency, as an effort to improve the competitiveness of local workforce and expand community involvement in the nickel industry value chain.
The programme runs for three months, combining skills development, physical conditioning, and discipline training so that participants can graduate with strong industrial work ethics. Participants also undergo skills certification, ensuring their expertise is formally recognised for use in other companies or industries.
Harita Nickel’s Community Development Manager, Broto Suwarso, described the PELITA vocational initiative as a demonstration of the company’s commitment to enhancing local human resources capacity. This strategy aims to enable communities to become masters of their own region, with tested competencies.
“Our target is clear: for young local people to have better career opportunities. It is proven that most graduates from previous PELITA cohorts have been absorbed and are working in our company’s operational environment,” he said on Friday (27 February 2026).
The programme’s impact has been directly felt by La Rehan, a PELITA fourth cohort participant from Soligi Village. Previously, he worked as a daily casual labourer and participated in selection to gain the opportunity to learn new skills.
“I am very pleased to be selected. This programme provides an opportunity for us local residents with minimal experience to acquire industrial skills. I hope this becomes a stepping stone for my future career development,” he said.
For information, the PELITA programme operates in several cohorts. The first cohort produced 14 Wheel Loader operators, followed by the second cohort with 28 Overhead Crane operators who now work in the Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) processing facilities at PT Halmahera Jaya Feronikel (HJF).
Meanwhile, the third cohort, which focused on Mandarin language proficiency, has graduated 22 participants who will now enter the internship phase.
The consistent implementation of the PELITA programme reflects Harita Nickel’s approach in building an inclusive employment ecosystem on Obi Island. Through strengthening local competencies, the company not only supports community empowerment but also reinforces the operational foundation that is safe, adaptive, and long-term oriented.