MINING AND THE WELL-BEING OF INDIGENOUS PAPUANS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEWMINING AND THE WELL-BEING OF INDIGENOUS PAPUANS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

This systematic literature review examines whether mining activities in Papua have contributed to the welfare of Indigenous Papuans (Orang Asli Papua/OAP). Despite Papua's vast mineral wealth including copper, gold, and nickel. The region consistently records the highest poverty rates in Indonesia, presenting a classic resource curse paradox. This study synthesizes evidence from 24 peer-reviewed articles, policy reports, and gray literature published between 2015 and 2025, with 75% from the last five years. The review identifies three principal forms of economic benefits generated by mining operations: employment opportunities, corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, and regional development contributions through taxes and royalties. However, the distribution of these benefits exhibits systematic inequality across three dimensions: between OAP and non-OAP (horizontal), within OAP communities (social fragmentation), and between mining and non-mining areas (spatial). Structural barriers include educational and skills gaps, limited political representation, weak regulatory enforcement, and the absence of binding benefit-sharing mechanisms such as Community Development Agreements (CDAs) found in comparable contexts like Papua New Guinea. The case of PT Gag Nikel in Raja Ampat illustrates how even active CSR programs operate without robust accountability structures, leaving OAP with minimal influence over resource governance. This review concludes that extractive activities in Papua remain inadequately designed to deliver inclusive outcomes for indigenous communities. Policy recommendations include legally mandated benefit-sharing frameworks, preferential employment quotas, and enforceable Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) protocols.