An explosion at a nickel plant on Sulawesi island, Indonesia, claimed the lives of at least 13 workers and left dozens injured, with some in critical condition.
The plant, funded by Chinese investment, witnessed the explosion during repair work on a furnace, causing a flammable liquid to ignite and triggering blasts in nearby oxygen tanks.
Indonesia, a leading global nickel producer crucial for electric car batteries and stainless steel, faced subsequent explosions due to the proximity of multiple oxygen tanks.
The fire was eventually extinguished, and the Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), a Chinese-owned nickel enterprise, has pledged to cover treatment costs for the victims.
The incident, which resulted in serious injuries to nearly half of the foreign workers, underscores the challenges in the nickel industry.
As China intensifies its efforts to develop an affordable electric vehicle sector, its investment in Indonesian nickel plants has surged.
This metal has become increasingly vital to Indonesia’s economy, rich in natural resources. Following the Indonesian government’s 2020 ban on exporting unprocessed ore, there has been a significant influx of foreign investment, leading to a rapid increase in mining activities in the nation’s more isolated areas.
This surge in production, however, has been marred by a series of fatal accidents. Earlier in the year, a Chinese and an Indonesian worker lost their lives at a nickel plant within the same industrial complex during a riot that erupted amidst a worker protest.
In a separate incident a few months prior, a fire at this plant resulted in the death of one worker and injuries to six others.
These repeated incidents have heightened concerns about the safety standards at facilities financed and operated by Chinese firms, raising questions about worker welfare and operational protocols in this rapidly expanding industry.