The dark side of clean energy: how nickel mining for electric vehicle batteries is devastating philippine communities

While the world races toward a cleaner energy future, the communities powering that transition are paying a steep price. A new report from Climate Rights International reveals that nickel mining in the Philippines’ Caraga region—essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage—is causing widespread environmental destruction and threatening local residents who dare to speak out.

The Caraga region on Mindanao island has earned the grim distinction of being the Philippines’ “mining capital,” hosting 23 active nickel mines across 26 total metallic mining operations. These facilities sprawl across more than 100,000 acres in the Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Sur provinces, where the concentrated mining activities are driving rampant deforestation, pollution, and health problems for nearby communities. The proximity of multiple mining operations makes it nearly impossible to pinpoint which companies are responsible for specific environmental damages, creating a web of accountability that protects corporate interests while communities suffer.

Perhaps most alarming is the human cost of this “green” transition. The report documents cases of residents being killed or harassed for opposing nickel mining projects—a tragic reality in the Philippines, which consistently ranks among the world’s most dangerous countries for environmental defenders. Based on interviews with 57 local residents and workers, the investigation highlights how companies like San Roque Metals Inc., Oriental Vision Mining Philippines Corporation, and Libjo Mining Corporation are operating in a region where speaking truth to power can be deadly. This sobering reality forces us to confront an uncomfortable question: can our transition to clean energy truly be considered “green” if it’s built on environmental destruction and human suffering?