Landslide at Indonesia Morowali Nickel Hub Kills One Worker

Article content(Bloomberg) — A landslide at one of the world’s biggest nickel smelting hubs swept away heavy equipment and killed one worker, the latest in a series of accidents at a vast Indonesian complex that has faced growing scrutiny from the government.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentSeveral excavators, bulldozers and dump trucks were caught in the slide at a waste dumping site belonging to PT QMB New Energy Materials Co. Ltd. in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, a spokesperson for IMIP said in a statement, which did not mention any casualties. IMIP declined to comment further.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentA separate statement from the local search and rescue agency said one worker died in the incident.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentIndonesia accounts for more than half of the world’s output of nickel, but its smelting sector has been plagued by industrial accident. An explosion in late 2023 killed 21 people in the same park and prompted an official probe. A fatal landslide last year disrupted output from QMB, which operates a high pressure acid leach, or HPAL, plant in the park.Article contentThe administration of President Prabowo Subianto, which has expanded the role of the state in Indonesia’s sprawling commodities industry, has also homed in on Morowali. Last year the Ministry of Environment launched an audit into IMIP, seeking large fines against smelting firms alleged to have broken environmental laws. Miners are also facing massive financial penalties for operating outside of their permitted areas.Article contentProduction by HPAL plants allows the extraction of a form of nickel used in electric vehicle batteries from low-grade ore. However, the process generates high volumes of waste, which are typically dried, compacted, and stored. Experts have questioned whether the waste, known as tailings, can be safely contained in the tropical archipelago, where torrential rain and earthquakes are common.Article contentChina’s GEM Co. and Tsingshan Holding Group Co., the major shareholders of QMB, didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comments during the Lunar New Year holidays. Article content—With assistance from Alfred Cang and Eko Listiyorini.Article contentTrending Garry Marr: For young Canadians who bought at peak of market, Home Buyers' Plan was invitation to disaster First-Time Homebuyers Cooler inflation gives Bank of Canada an opening to cut rates if economy falters, say economists Economy Posthaste: Canada's biggest city is losing momentum, and that's a problem for the whole country News Taxing unrealized gains is a silly idea that Canada should ignore Personal Finance Edmontonians are engaged in a common, contentious debate: how should a city grow?

Real Estate Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Garry Marr: For young Canadians who bought at peak of market, Home Buyers' Plan was invitation to disaster First-Time Homebuyers Cooler inflation gives Bank of Canada an opening to cut rates if economy falters, say economists Economy Posthaste: Canada's biggest city is losing momentum, and that's a problem for the whole country News Taxing unrealized gains is a silly idea that Canada should ignore Personal Finance Edmontonians are engaged in a common, contentious debate: how should a city grow? Real Estate