The cost of mining in   Indonesia Reporting by Katerina Barton Photography by Claire Harbage Graphics by Connie Hanzhang Jin Published May 7, 2026 Autoplay video? Over the past decade, Indonesia has rapidly grown its nickel industry and now produces more than half the world’s nickel supply. The majority of Indonesia’s nickel is currently used for stainless steel production, with the rest going to battery supply, like those in electric vehicles (EVs) and data   centers. Indonesia’s government has big ambitions for the country to become a giant in the green-energy transition, but its nickel mining remains far from clean and has come at a cost to the environment and the livelihood of   locals. Indonesia’s nickel industry relies heavily on foreign investment, mainly from Chinese companies, which control a majority of the country’s refining capacity. The U.S., seeking to reduce reliance on China, has recently struck a trade deal securing access to Indonesian   nickel.…