[kellyhound]

Thirteen workers were killed and 38 were injured Sunday in the explosion of a nickel smelter furnace owned by Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) on Sulawesi island, the owner of the industrial park where the smelter is located said.

The blast occurred when workers repaired the furnace and installed plates at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday local time, killing eight Indonesian workers and five Chinese workers, Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) said in a statement. The fire was extinguished at 09:10 a.m., it added.

"Based on initial investigations, the explosion (was) possibly caused because there was still some explosion-inducing liquid at the bottom of the furnace. During the repairing process, an explosion occurred," an IMIP spokesperson said.

The first explosion triggered several other explosions because there were many oxygen cylinders used for welding and cutting furnace components for the repair, the spokesperson added.

IMIP is a nickel-focused industrial park owned by China's Tsingshan and its local partner Bintang Delapan Group, which produce stainless steel and carbon steel. ITSS is one of the tenants at the industrial park, IMIP said.

IMIP will coordinate with related parties to investigate the incident and cover all treatment costs for victims, the company said.

Nickel has become increasingly crucial for resource-rich Indonesia, the world's biggest nickel producer, with billions of dollars of global investment flowing in after the government banned exports of unprocessed ore in 2020.

Southeast Asia's biggest economy is trying to develop downstream nickel industries and lure big-ticket investment from manufacturers of electric vehicles and their batteries.

However, several fatal accidents have occurred in Indonesia's nickel processing industry in recent years.

President Joko Widodo is keen to develop the sector but has also called for improvements in safety and has pledged to enhance monitoring of environmental standards.

[fred5079]

My god it was like watching a Chinese fire drill

[ride]

When stacking victims, please put the living on top of the dead. Helps keep them alive during transport.

[azblue81]

How many people have to die so you can feel good about yourself when you drive an electric car that runs off power from the grid generated by burning coal? People are so fucking stupid.

[KlausSchwabDies]

Originally Posted by azblue81 ↗

How many people have to die so you can feel good about yourself when you drive an electric car that runs off power from the grid generated by burning coal? People are so fucking stupid.

All by design

[docfr8]

Safety was a priority obviously

[William May]

Originally Posted by fred5079 ↗

My god it was like watching a Chinese fire drill

It's actually a Chinese-run plant.

[William May]

Originally Posted by azblue81 ↗

How many people have to die so you can feel good about yourself when you drive an electric car that runs off power from the grid generated by burning coal? People are so fucking stupid.

Oh, Stop being so judgmental. Oligarchs kids need new cars, too, ya know!

[William May]

This looks like one of Doc Thrumpkins Fire Factory stories.

OF COURSE there was fire liquid in the bottom of the furnaces!

That is where it is supposed to be kept!!

[houseoftechno]

Originally Posted by azblue81 ↗

How many people have to die so you can feel good about yourself when you drive an electric car that runs off burning Indonesians and power from the grid generated by burning coal? People are so fucking stupid.

Fixed.