Tragic Landslide Halts Nickel Operations in Sulawesi

A landslide at PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park in Sulawesi led to one worker's death and halted operations in a nickel processing hub. The incident occurred in a tailings area managed by PT QMB, suspected due to soft soils. Authorities are currently investigating the matter.

A deadly landslide has struck PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park's nickel processing facility in Sulawesi, leading to the death of one worker and a temporary halt in operations. The incident occurred on Wednesday in a tailings zone run by PT QMB, suspected to have been caused by soft soils.

The slide swept away heavy machinery, including excavators and bulldozers. While operations at the affected zone were halted, authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. A local contractor lost their life, but no other personnel are missing, according to IMIP spokesman Dedy Kurniawan.

PT IMIP, the largest nickel-processing hub in Indonesia, accommodates over 50 tenants, including major entities like Tsingshan Holding Group. The affected area managed by QMB has a history of landslide-related halts, with a similar incident occurring in March 2025, costing four lives. Neither Tsingshan nor GEM, QMB’s leading entities, responded to inquiries.