ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The nickel smelter belonging to PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) operating in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) exploded again on Thursday, June 13 2024 at 22.00 WITA. Two workers were injured as a result of this explosion and are currently undergoing treatment at Bungku Hospital, Morowali, Central Sulawesi.
Chairman of the IMIP Morowali Mining and Energy Industry Workers Union (SBIPE), Henry, said that this explosion was caused by the incomplete handling of the smelter explosion at the end of last year. As is known, the same smelter also exploded on December 24 2023, resulting in 51 workers being injured, some of whom died.
According to Henry, the remaining liquid that coagulated from the explosion is now the cause of the same explosion repeating itself.
“This shows that there have been no significant improvements made by PT. ITSS to prevent work accidents and protect workers so that the same accidents happen again in the same parts and places,” said Henry in his official statement, Friday, June 14 2024.
Due to this incident, Henry urged an audit from an independent team of PT. ITSS, by involving labor unions, also holds the company responsible for this explosion. The labor union also wants PT ITSS and the government to ensure good handling of victims including the fulfillment of all rights from work accidents that occur.
“We also convey that the victims of the 2023 ITTS tragedy have not yet been completely handled by the company and we are assisting the victims to ensure that their rights are fulfilled which until now have not been fulfilled by the company,” he stressed.
For your information, at the end of last year PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) provided information regarding the alleged cause of the smelter furnace explosion that occurred at one of its tenant factories, namely PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS).
“The results of the initial investigation show that the cause of the explosion was thought to be because the bottom of the furnace still contained explosive trigger fluid,” said a written statement from PT IMIP management.
The accident first occurred when a number of workers were repairing the furnace and installing plates on the furnace. When the repair process was carried out, an explosion inevitably occurred. Moreover, there were many oxygen cylinders at the explosion site which were usually used for welding and cutting furnace components. As a result, the first explosion triggered several oxygen cylinders in the area to explode. (AT Network)
Follow Us at Google News and WA Channel