Harita Group’s Indonesian nickel mines feed the supply chains of some of the world’s biggest electric vehicle makers. But the conglomerate’s own internal monitoring showed the operation was polluting local waters for years with the toxic “Erin Brockovich” chemical, chromium-6.
  • The Harita Group, a major Indonesian conglomerate, persistently found high levels of the carcinogenic chemical chromium-6 in waters around its nickel mine, which opened in 2010.
  • The conglomerate’s own internal tests showed chromium-6 levels regularly breaching Indonesian legal limits for a decade.
  • Leaked emails show senior Harita executives were aware of the pollution since at least 2012.
  • Residents in the area say they received no warnings about pollution, and the conglomerate has repeatedly stated that local water is safe to drink.
  • Harita did not respond to repeated requests for comment. It has previously stated that its operations were in compliance with local environmental regulations, despite continuing internal reports of chromium-6 levels that exceeded legal limits. Harita also implemented a series of measures to control the pollution, including installing ponds to collect toxic runoff and carrying out chemical treatments.