Protests Erupt in Indonesia Over Fatal Explosion at Chinese-Funded Nickel Plant

In the aftermath of a devastating explosion at a Chinese-funded nickel-processing plant in Indonesia that claimed at least 18 lives and injured dozens, hundreds of Indonesian workers took to the streets in protest on Wednesday, decrying the working conditions at the facility.

The explosion occurred on Saturday morning while workers were repairing a furnace at a plant owned by PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) in the Morowali Industrial Park on Sulawesi Island, a crucial hub for Indonesia’s nickel production. Nickel is a key component in electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel, drawing significant Chinese investment to the region but also fueling unrest over pay and working conditions.

Images captured by AFP showcased the large-scale protest outside the industrial complex, with demonstrators presenting a list of 23 demands to the management. Among the demands were calls for improved maintenance of smelters, enhancements to health clinics to handle emergencies, and a requirement for Chinese workers to learn the Indonesian language.

“No production is worth a life!” shouted protesters through loudspeakers during the demonstration, emphasizing the grave human cost of the industrial incident.

Muhammad Taufik, a 40-year-old welder, was among those killed in the blast, leaving behind a grieving family. His cousin, Parlin Hidayat, revealed that ITSS had provided the family with compensation totaling $30,625 after the accident. The family, however, hopes for preventive measures to avoid such tragedies in the future.

Thirty individuals are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals for injuries sustained in the explosion, according to police reports.

Dedy Kurniawan, a spokesperson for Morowali Industrial Park, informed AFP that the company had already addressed some of the protesters’ demands in the past two days, though specific details were not provided. He expressed hope that the demonstration would cease after the workers received an explanation.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated that eight Chinese nationals were among the deceased and conveyed China’s deep sadness over the accident. She emphasized China’s commitment to prioritizing safe production in overseas projects funded by Chinese capital.

Tsingshan Holding Group, the world’s largest nickel producer and China’s leading stainless steelmaker, holds a majority stake in ITSS. The incident follows a similar tragedy in January, where two workers were killed during a riot at a nickel smelting plant in the same industrial park, triggered by protests over safety conditions and pay.