Leaked records show Indonesia's Harita approved payments to politicians

· Investigations · Indonesia

Leaked records show that Indonesian nickel miner Harita Group approved hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments described as "incentives" for community leaders, flights for politicians, and financial support for military projects between 2013 and 2023. The documents offer a detailed window into how a major player in Indonesia's nickel sector, a supply chain central to global electric-vehicle batteries, managed relationships with local officials and the military over a decade. The payments cited include support for military projects alongside travel arrangements for politicians and incentives for community leaders. OCCRP reported on the leaked records. The disclosures come as scrutiny of Indonesia's nickel industry and its governance intensifies.

Why it matters：Indonesia is a dominant supplier of nickel for global battery supply chains, so evidence of corporate payments to politicians and the military raises governance questions for buyers and investors worldwide.

Key points

  • The records cover payments approved between 2013 and 2023.
  • Payments included "incentives" for community leaders and flights for politicians.
  • Harita also approved financial support for military projects.

Sources (original reporting)

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