ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — A fire broke out once again at the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), Central Sulawesi, one of Indonesia’s largest nickel processing complexes. The incident, which occurred at a smelter owned by PT Sulawesi Nickel Cobalt (SLNC), left three workers injured and reignited public concern over the poor enforcement of occupational safety standards in the nation’s booming nickel sector.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was triggered by sparks from welding work, which ignited a fiberglass-covered tank, causing flames to spread rapidly through the plant’s scrubber tower. The blaze adds to a growing list of industrial accidents at IMIP, raising questions about worker safety in Indonesia’s nickel downstream industry.
Nationwide Audit of Workplace Safety Standards
Ateng Sutisna, a member of Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said the fire should serve as a serious warning to the government and industry leaders to strengthen supervision and enforcement of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) protocols.
“We cannot keep allowing incidents like this to happen again and again. Workers’ lives should never be treated as a cost of production,” Ateng stressed in Jakarta, October 17, 2025.
He urged the government to conduct an independent audit of all safety systems in nickel industrial zones — including IMIP — and to make the findings public in the interest of transparency.
“The safety audit must be comprehensive, not just a bureaucratic formality. The government must show that it values human life above industrial output,” he added.
Ateng pointed out that poor supervision and lack of proper safety training remain key causes of recurring accidents, particularly in high-risk operations such as welding, metal cutting, and smelting furnace work.
Energy Minister Bahlil Dispatches Minerba Team to Investigate
In response, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed that he has sent a special investigation team from the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal (Minerba) to Morowali to conduct an on-site assessment.
“I was briefed this morning and immediately instructed the Minerba team to fly to Morowali,” Bahlil told reporters in Jakarta.
According to Bahlil, the investigation results will serve as the basis for a comprehensive evaluation of workplace safety systems across the nickel downstream sector to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, Morowali Police have conducted a forensic examination of the site and coordinated with IMIP management.
Police Chief AKBP Zulkarnain said preliminary findings indicate negligence in welding procedures as the likely cause of the blaze.
“We will release our findings transparently. This incident must serve as a strong lesson for all parties operating within industrial zones,” Zulkarnain said.
Key Facts: IMIP Smelter Fire in Morowali
Location: PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), Central Sulawesi
Affected company: PT Sulawesi Nickel Cobalt (SLNC)
Casualties: 3 workers injured
Preliminary cause: Welding sparks ignited a fiberglass tank
Government response: Minerba team deployed for investigation
Parliamentary response: PKS demands a national audit of K3 safety standards
A Warning for Indonesia’s Nickel Ambitions
The IMIP fire serves as a grim reminder of the human cost behind Indonesia’s ambitious nickel downstream program. While the country positions itself as a global hub for electric vehicle battery materials, its industrial safety systems remain dangerously fragile.
“The growth of Indonesia’s nickel industry must not come at the expense of human lives. Safety must be the foundation of a sustainable and responsible industry,” Ateng Sutisna concluded. (AT Network)
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