According to reports from authoritative media sources, the CEO of French mining group Eramet's Indonesian operations confirmed on June 4, 2026, that the Weda Bay nickel mine has completely halted extraction activities since late May. This suspension is a direct result of the Indonesian government significantly reducing the mine's 2026 production quota from 42 million tons the previous year to 12 million tons, a drastic 70% cut, which led to the company exhausting its allocated quota. The operation has now reduced its workforce and transitioned into a phase focused on equipment maintenance and preservation.

The company is currently in active discussions with Indonesian mining authorities regarding the possibility of extending and supplementing its production quota. Indonesia's standard annual RKAB quota adjustment approval window typically concludes by the end of July each year. While the company aims to restore production to last year's levels, the final decision rests with the Indonesian government, and the outcome of these negotiations for additional quota remains uncertain.

This substantial reduction in mining quotas by the Indonesian government is a key component of its strategy to control volume and support prices. The policy is designed to alleviate the global oversupply of nickel and bolster market prices. This move has already triggered significant ripple effects across the global nickel supply chain, impacting costs for downstream industries such as stainless steel and new energy batteries.