An Indonesian task force targeting illegal forest occupation said it is taking
immediate enforcement action against companies controlled by or linked to former
Glencore nickel trader Arif Kurniawan. A preliminary review found alleged
violations in mining activity, permitting and forest-land use, though the task
force did not specify measures. Kurniawan, who left Glencore more than a decade
ago, rose to become Indonesia’s largest nickel ore trader; Indonesia supplies
roughly 60% of global nickel. Industry reports last year estimated Kurniawan’s
2024 nickel volumes at about one-third of Indonesia’s supply and said he and a
key partner hold extraction rights to at least 20 concessions. Any enforcement
targeting his network could trigger significant disruption across the nickel
sector.
