Two Chinese nationals named suspects in Indonesian smelter explosion case

INDONESIA – The Indonesian police have designated two individuals as suspects in the case of the nickel smelter furnace explosion at PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) in Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi.

The suspects, both foreign nationals from China, are identified as ZG and Z, according to Chief of Public Relations of the Central Sulawesi Regional Police, Commissioner Djoko Wienarno, in a statement on Sunday (11 Feb).

Djoko revealed that ZG worked at PT ITSS as a Supervisor Furnace at PT Zhao Hui Nickel, while Z was a deputy supervisor at PT OSMI.

However, further details about the roles of the two suspects in the smelter furnace explosion case, which claimed the lives of 21 individuals, have yet to be disclosed by Djoko.

The explosion, which occurred on December 24, 2023, at the nickel smelter furnace of PT ITSS located within the PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), resulted in the tragic deaths of 21 workers, comprising 13 Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) and eight foreign workers (TKA). Additionally, dozens of individuals sustained injuries in the incident.