The owner of an industrial complex in Indonesia announced today that 13 workers were killed and 38 injured in an explosion at a nickel smelter owned by Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) on Sulawesi Island. The Morowali Industrial Complex stated in a press release that the explosion occurred at 5:30 AM local time (21:30 GMT on Saturday) while workers were repairing and maintaining the smelter and installing panels. Among the deceased were eight Indonesian workers and five Chinese workers. The statement noted that the fire was extinguished at 9:10 AM local time.
A spokesperson for the industrial complex mentioned that preliminary investigations suggest the explosion may have been caused by residual explosive materials, including a liquid at the bottom of the smelter, and the explosion occurred during maintenance activities. The initial explosion was followed by several others due to the presence of numerous oxygen cylinders used for welding and cutting components of the smelter for repairs.
The Morowali Industrial Complex in Indonesia focuses on nickel and is owned by Tsingshan, a Chinese company, along with its local partner, the Bintang Delapan Group, which produces stainless steel and carbon steel. The statement indicated that ITSS is a tenant in the industrial complex. The company also stated that the owner of the industrial complex will coordinate with relevant parties to investigate the incident and cover all medical expenses for the injured.
Nickel's significance has increased for resource-rich Indonesia, the world's largest nickel producer, with billions of dollars in global investments flowing in after the government banned unprocessed ore exports in 2020. Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, is attempting to develop finished nickel products industries and attract significant investments from electric vehicle manufacturers and their batteries. However, several fatal accidents have occurred in Indonesia's nickel processing sector in recent years. President Joko Widodo has expressed a desire to develop the sector but has also called for improvements in safety procedures and committed to enhancing environmental standards monitoring.
