Indonesian nickel plant death toll rises to 18

The death toll from an explosion at a Chinese-funded nickel-processing plant in eastern Indonesia has climbed to 18, with dozens more undergoing treatment in local hospitals.

The plant, owned by PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) and situated in the mineral-rich Morowali Industrial Park on Sulawesi Island, has become a focal point for concerns about working conditions amid Beijing’s increasing investments.

The tragedy occurred on Saturday morning as workers were conducting repairs on a furnace at the ITSS facility.

Morowali police chief Suprianto confirmed that the number of victims who succumbed to their injuries has now reached 18, primarily due to severe burns covering over 70 percent of their bodies.

Among the victims, eight were foreign nationals, while ten were Indonesian workers. Currently, 30 individuals remain hospitalized, with six others receiving treatment at ITSS’s clinics.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the explosion occurred during maintenance activities on a closed furnace, causing residual slag to flow out and come into contact with flammable materials in the vicinity.

The ensuing fire was successfully extinguished later on Saturday.

Tsingshan Holding Group, the world’s largest nickel producer and China’s leading stainless steelmaker, holds a majority stake in ITSS.

The industrial park, where the tragic incident took place, is primarily owned by Tsingshan, along with local partner Bintang Delapan.

The Chinese government has expressed its concern and initiated an investigation, with a foreign ministry spokeswoman stating on Monday that Beijing had requested its embassy in Jakarta to collaborate with Indonesian authorities in understanding the circumstances surrounding the explosion.

This unfortunate event follows a series of incidents at the same industrial park, raising questions about safety conditions at facilities funded and operated by Chinese companies. In January, a riot during a protest over safety conditions and pay led to the deaths of two workers, including a Chinese national, at a nickel smelting plant in the area.

Additionally, in June, a fire at the same facility resulted in one fatality and six injuries, further intensifying concerns about the safety standards of Chinese-backed operations in the region.