Three injured in industrial fire at Indonesia’s IMIP nickel complex

A fire broke out on 12 October 2025 at the scrubber tower of PT Sulawesi Nickel Cobalt (SLNC), a tenant operating inside the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The incident left three workers injured, including two Chinese nationals, though no fatalities were reported.

According to IMIP Media Relations Head Dedy Kurniawan, the blaze was believed to have started from hot work operations — welding and cutting activities conducted on the third floor of a fibre tank construction area.
Sparks from the welding process reportedly ignited a protective tarp, causing the flames to spread rapidly upward.

Emergency response teams stationed within the industrial complex promptly deployed portable fire extinguishers (APAR) and coordinated rescue efforts for workers trapped in the structure.

“One of our crawler crane operators successfully used the crane hook to evacuate La Osi Adi, who was trapped. Meanwhile, fire brigades from multiple tenants sprayed water to shield him from the heat during the evacuation,” Dedy told media.

He added that IMIP’s Occupational Health and Safety Department had launched an internal investigation and would conduct a comprehensive review of existing workplace safety and health procedures.

Eyewitness accounts suggested that the fire might also have involved steam ducts containing a mixture of acid and nickel, intensifying the heat and smoke inside the tower. Around 08:50 a.m. local time, thick black smoke was seen billowing from the upper section of the scrubber tower before flames became visible.

Local police from Morowali District Police (Polres Morowali) quickly arrived at the scene to conduct a forensic examination, install safety barriers, and collect witness statements from workers present during the incident.

“Upon receiving the report, our team immediately secured the site, set up safety lines, interviewed witnesses, and coordinated with IMIP management as the park operator,” said Morowali Police Chief Zulkarnain in a statement.

The fire was fully contained after IMIP’s internal fire brigade conducted cooling and water-spraying operations across the affected area.
Authorities confirmed that industrial activities in the vicinity resumed later the same day, as the fire did not spread beyond the scrubber tower.

The fire was brought under control after IMIP’s internal firefighting team carried out extensive spraying and cooling operations.
No fatalities were reported, and industrial activities in the surrounding area had returned to normal by midday.