ASIATODAY.ID, MOROWALI – A large-scale fire once again struck PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), Indonesia’s biggest nickel processing hub. The blaze hit facilities owned by PT Huayue Nickel Cobalt (HYNC) and PT Sulawesi Nickel Cobalt (SLNC), both operated by Chinese investors.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, October 12, 2025, in Bahodopi District, Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi.
A one-minute video circulating on social media showed flames engulfing the plant’s outer structure while two workers were trapped on an exterior staircase. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, underscoring persistent weaknesses in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) implementation within the industrial park.
Three Workers Injured, Police Launch Investigation
Morowali Police Chief AKBP Zulkarnain confirmed that the fire had been successfully extinguished.
“No fatalities were reported, but three workers sustained burn injuries, including two Chinese nationals and one Indonesian,” Zulkarnain stated, as quoted on Monday, October 13, 2025.
The injured workers received immediate medical treatment and are in stable condition. Police have launched an investigation, interviewing witnesses and coordinating with IMIP management to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Fire Believed to Have Been Triggered by Welding Sparks
According to Dedy Kurniawan, Head of Media Relations at PT IMIP, the incident began during hot work activities, including welding and metal cutting on the third floor of the facility’s fiber tank construction area.
“Welding sparks likely ignited a protective tarp, triggering the fire that spread rapidly to the upper section of the structure,” Dedy explained in an official statement.
Emergency response teams on-site quickly worked to extinguish the flames and evacuate workers. IMIP’s Occupational Health and Safety Department has initiated an internal investigation and pledged to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of existing safety procedures within the industrial park.
Recurring Accidents Highlight Persistent OSH Gaps in IMIP
This latest blaze is not the first at the Morowali Industrial Park. Over the past few years, the complex has faced repeated industrial accidents—many involving fatalities or severe injuries—across its smelter and supporting facilities.
According to the Indonesian Association of Occupational Safety and Health Experts (PAKKI), the mining and mineral processing sector bears a heavy responsibility to uphold OSH standards aligned with both national regulations and international norms.
PAKKI emphasizes the need for safe work procedures, effective emergency response systems, and formal OSH certifications as evidence of regulatory compliance.
However, the recurring accidents in Morowali indicate that on-the-ground implementation remains far from ideal. Amid surging investment and production pressure, worker safety appears to be taking a back seat in the heart of Indonesia’s booming nickel industry. (AT Network)
Follow Us at Google News and WA Channel