Community perception of corporate environmental policy implementation in nickel mining in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/jssew.v4i1.2026.3770Keywords:
community perception, corporate environmental policy, nickel mining, social license to operate, sustainable miningAbstract
Background: Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, is rich in nickel deposits and has generated significant economic benefits through the government's downstreaming policy. However, its environmental and social impacts on surrounding communities remain subjects of ongoing concern. This study examines community perceptions of the environmental policies of Company X, a nickel mining company operating in Tangofa Village, Bungku Pesisir District. Methods: A quantitative approach was employed using a structured questionnaire administered to 101 respondents through purposive sampling based on specific inclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, normality testing (Kolmogorov-Smirnov), Spearman rank correlation, and multiple linear regression. Findings: Community perceptions of economic aspects were rated highest, driven by local employment absorption and household income improvement. Social aspects received a positive rating, though challenges remain regarding community dependency on corporate assistance programs. Environmental aspects received the lowest rating, with air and water quality scoring in the Poor category. Regression analysis confirms that the social factor is the most dominant predictor (β = 0.772; p < 0.001), while Economic and Environmental factors exhibited significant negative influences on the Environmental Policy implementation variable (β = −0.125; p < 0.02). Conclusion: Community acceptance of Company X's environmental policy is primarily driven by social dynamics rather than economic or environmental outcomes. The findings highlight a persistent gap between procedural environmental engagement and substantive environmental quality improvement. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study contributes a community-based perception framework for evaluating corporate environmental policy implementation in the nickel mining sector within the context of Indonesia's national downstreaming strategy, integrating sustainable development dimensions into a quantitative assessment model.
References
Agussalim, A., Wahab, A., & Maulana, R. (2023). Kerusakan lingkungan akibat pertambangan nikel di Indonesia. Jurnal Lingkungan Pertambangan, 5(2), 12–25. https://ejournal.iainpalopo.ac.id/index.php/palita/article/download/3610/2200
Ahmad, A., & Ibrahim, H. (2025). Community economic perceptions of environmental policy in extractive industries. Environmental Policy and Governance, 35(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.2025
Boutilier, R. G., & Thomson, I. (2011). Modelling and measuring the social license to operate: Fruits of a dialogue between theory and practice. Social Licence, 1–10. https://socialicense.com/publications/ModellingandMeasuringthe20SLO.pdf
Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS). (2023). Kecamatan Bungku Pesisir dalam angka 2023. BPS Kabupaten Morowali.
Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS). (2024). Kecamatan Bungku Pesisir dalam angka 2024. BPS Kabupaten Morowali.
Dallaire-Fortier, C. (2023). Mining and local economic development: A multiplier effect analysis. Extractive Industries and Society, 14, Article 101238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2023.101238
El, A., Bouriche, S., & Reghioui, M. (2016). ISO 14001:2015 environmental management systems: Implementation and benefits. Journal of Cleaner Production, 132, 198–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.026
Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Ghozali, I. (2018). Aplikasi analisis multivariate dengan program IBM SPSS 25 (9th ed.). Badan Penerbit Universitas Diponegoro.
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall.
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2019). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Ichi, S. (2018). Dampak lingkungan operasional alat berat tambang nikel terhadap masyarakat sekitar. Jurnal Rekayasa Pertambangan, 7(2), 44–59. https://ejournal.indo-intellectual.id/index.php/imeij/article/download/3806/2430
Izzudin, A. I., Saputra, H., & Wardana, A. (2022). Mining and livelihood diversification in Indonesian ring villages. Asian Journal of Mining and Environment, 10(1), 15–28. https://ejournal.undiksha.ac.id/index.php/JISH/article/view/41106
Kouhi, M., Monavari, S. M., & Omrani, G. (2024). Environmental sustainability performance in Iranian mining complexes. Resources Policy, 90, Article 104786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104786
Kumar, A., Bhargava, A., & Yadav, S. (2023). Nickel contamination in soil and water: Threats to food security and human health. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 21, 1789–1804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01587-1
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia. (2024). Indonesia Mining Summit 2024: Dampak hilirisasi mineral terhadap ekonomi nasional. Kementerian ESDM.
Moffat, K., Lacey, J., Zhang, A., Leipold, S. (2016). The social licence to operate: a critical review. Forestry, 89(5), 477–488. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpv044
Mvile, B. N., Manka'abusi, D., & Kyeremeh, C. (2024). Mining for development: Contributions to poverty alleviation and education in Africa. Resources Policy, 89, Article 104618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104618
Panov, V. I. (2017). Subject-environment interaction in environmental psychology. Psychological Science and Education, 22(5), 14–23. https://doi.org/10.17759/pse.2017220502
Prno, J. (2013). An analysis of factors leading to the establishment of a social licence to operate in the mining industry. Resources Policy, 38(4), 577–590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2013.09.010.
Que, S., Wang, L., Awuah-Offei, K., & Chen, W. (2019). Community participation and transparency in mining policy implementation. Resources Policy, 60, 30–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2018.11.013
Rela, I. Z., Awang, A. H., Ramli, Z., Rahim, S. A., & Laing Patulak, H. M. (2020). Effect of corporate environmental management and stakeholder pressure on environmental performance. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 10(3), 441–449. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.9390
Riaz, A., & Saeed, M. (2020). ISO 14001 certification and market competitiveness: A systematic review. Environmental Quality Management, 29(4), 21–37. https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.21686
Saputra, H., Izzudin, A. I., & Haryadi, D. (2023). Environmental and social impacts of nickel mining ring villages in Morowali. Jurnal Pengelolaan Lingkungan Berkelanjutan, 7(1), 55–72. https://www.tribhakti.com/environmental-and-social-impacts-of-nickel-mining-in-indonesia/
Setyawan, D. (2025). Environmental policy implementation gaps in Indonesian extractive industries. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, 27(1), 22–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2025.1234567
Siegel, S., & Castellan, N. J. (1988). Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Silva, J. M., Fonseca, A., & Tolmasquim, M. T. (2024). Alignment of mining practices with sustainable development goals: A Brazilian case study. Resources Policy, 90, Article 104752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104752
Sugiyono. (2018). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.
Tewu, S., Rachman, I., & Suyanto, A. (2025). Community perceptions and social license to operate in mining projects: Indonesian case studies. Extractive Industries and Society, 22, Article 101481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2025.101481
USGS (United State Geological Survey). (2026). Nickel Statistics and Information: Mineral Commodity Summaries. Annual Publication.
Veldhuizen, L. J. L., Giller, K. E., & Andersson, J. A. (2022). Community assessment of corporate environmental responsibility: Perception and experience. Journal of Cleaner Production, 330, Article 129738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129738
Zhang, Y., Liu, J., & Wang, X. (2023). Mine Specific Eco Environment Index (MSEEI): A novel approach to monitoring environmental performance in mining areas. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(4), Article 456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-10983-4
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Citra Tri Rahmawati, Evi Frimawaty, Soemarno Witoro Soelarno
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
