Investment Minister Appreciates PT Vale's ESG Practices in Morowali

Investment and Downstreaming Minister and CEO of Danantara Indonesia, Rosan P. Roeslani, has stressed that the acceleration of national downstreaming must be paired with a commitment to environmental and social sustainability. He made the statement during a visit to PT Vale Indonesia’s Indonesia Growth Project (IGP) Morowali, following a ceremony for the arrival of an autoclave, the main equipment for the High Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) project at the Sambalagi plant area.

During the visit, Rosan was accompanied by Danantara officials, including Managing Director of Danantara Asset Management Febriany Eddy. The delegation was welcomed by PT Vale Indonesia CEO Bernardus Irmanto, Chief Project Officer Muhammad Asril, and the company’s management team. Beyond reviewing the strategic project’s progress, Rosan directly observed various implementations of sustainability principles applied by PT Vale. One location visited was the nursery facility, which is part of the company’s post-mining land rehabilitation and reclamation programme.

At the site, Bernardus outlined the company’s environmental management efforts, ranging from nursery development, land rehabilitation and reclamation, to sediment pond management and other conservation programmes. These initiatives form part of the company’s application of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in its operations. The nursery facility stands as a tangible commitment, supporting PT Vale’s long-term strategy to balance mining activities with environmental preservation and community empowerment.

Rosan expressed his appreciation for PT Vale’s approach. ‘I am very pleased to see firsthand PT Vale’s operations in Morowali. What I observed most is how the aspect of sustainability, which maintains a balance between the environment and social factors, is highly prioritised here. We see nursery facilities and the implementation of best mining practices with international standards. The hope is that this can be maintained continuously,’ he said. He assessed that the quality of investment is no longer measured solely by the economic value generated, but also by the positive impact on the environment and society. Therefore, sustainability must be the foundation in driving national downstreaming.

‘Equally important is how we maintain harmony from the business side, both in terms of ESG and the surrounding community. In this way, incoming investment can provide sustainable benefits, not only for the company but also for the region and the people,’ he added. After reviewing the nursery, the delegation continued to the jetty, a key infrastructure supporting the project’s operations. From the air, Rosan also witnessed PT Vale’s mining activities firsthand, observing how production is carried out alongside responsible mining practices, including mine area management, land rehabilitation, and environmental protection.

Separately, PT Vale Indonesia’s President Commissioner, Fauzambi Syahrul Multhazar, assessed that the IGP Morowali project has been well-prepared, both in planning and execution. He noted the project aligns with the government’s downstreaming policy direction. ‘I believe this project is well-prepared, well-planned, and will be well-executed. Of course, this project also runs in line with the government’s downstreaming direction. Morowali, in my view, is a good pilot project,’ he stated. For PT Vale, downstreaming is not merely about building mineral processing industries, but also about creating sustainable added value through a balance of economic growth, environmental preservation, and community welfare improvement.