Indonesia Nickel plant exploded, killed 13 staff members

•  Indonesia is the world’s leading nickel producer.
• The incident occurred during maintenance work on a furnace.
• The incident was triggered by a flammable liquid igniting, triggering explosions in nearby oxygen tanks.

Tragedy struck Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island as an explosion at a nickel plant claimed the lives of at least 13 workers and left many others seriously injured. Among the victims, eight were Indonesian, and five were Chinese, reflecting the plant’s Chinese funding.

The incident occurred during maintenance work on a furnace when a flammable liquid ignited, triggering explosions in nearby oxygen tanks, according to preliminary investigations. Indonesia holds the position of the world’s leading nickel producer, crucial for electric car batteries and stainless steel.

The initial explosion led to subsequent blasts due to the proximity of numerous oxygen tanks, as stated by a spokesperson from Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP). The fire was eventually brought under control several hours later.

Chinese company:

IMIP is a company primarily engaged in nickel production, and it is owned by a Chinese corporation. The company specializes in manufacturing stainless steel and carbon steel.

In response to the tragic incident, the company has committed to covering all the medical treatment expenses for the victims.

“Their faces were burnt, their clothes were all burnt,” a worker who witnessed the explosion told by the French news source.

Acting Morowali district head Rachmansyah Ismail shared with local media that nearly half of the individuals injured in the incident were foreign workers, and at least 17 of them sustained serious injuries.

China, in its pursuit of expanding its low-cost electric vehicle industry, has made significant investments in nickel plants located in Indonesia. This strategic move underscores the vital role nickel plays in Indonesia’s resource-rich economy.

Following the government’s 2020 ban on the export of unprocessed ore, Indonesia has witnessed an influx of billions of dollars in foreign investment. This surge has led to a production boom, resulting in several fatal accidents in remote regions of the country in recent years.

Earlier this year, a riot during a staff protest led to the death of a Chinese and an Indonesian worker at a nickel plant in the same industrial park. Additionally, a few months ago, a fire at the same plant claimed one life and left six others injured.

These incidents have raised concerns about safety at facilities funded and operated by Chinese companies.

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