Another Nickel Mine Waste Landslide Leads to a Death in Indonesia

Why It Matters

The tragedy underscores the growing safety and environmental risks tied to Indonesia’s nickel boom, pressuring regulators and investors to demand stricter tailings management.

Key Takeaways

• One worker died, operations stopped at IMIP
• Tailings landslides have caused three deaths previously
• HPAL processing generates ~19.2 Mt waste yearly
• Heavy rain and unstable soils trigger tailings failures
• Indonesia now supplies ~60% of global nickel

Pulse Analysis

Indonesia’s nickel surge has been nothing short of meteoric, catapulting the country from a modest 5.7% to nearly 60% of global production in less than a decade. The high‑pressure acid leaching (HPAL) technique, prized for its efficiency in extracting battery‑grade nickel, also generates massive volumes of acidic tailings. At Morowali Industrial Park, the PT QMB operation alone discharges about 19.2 million tonnes of waste each year, creating towering storage facilities that strain the local geology.

Repeated failures at Morowali reveal systemic safety gaps. A 2025 landslide killed three workers, and a subsequent flood breached a neighboring dam, displacing nearby communities. Investigations point to inadequate monitoring, ignored soil‑crack warnings, and insufficient personal protective equipment. The latest February 2026 slide, which trapped a worker inside his excavator, highlights how operational pressure can override basic risk‑assessment protocols, especially in a region prone to heavy rainfall and seismic activity.

For the global EV supply chain, these incidents raise red flags. Investors and automakers increasingly scrutinize the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) credentials of nickel sources. Persistent tailings disasters could trigger supply disruptions, higher compliance costs, and reputational damage for firms tied to Indonesian output. Policymakers are urged to impose a moratorium on new HPAL plants, conduct rigorous safety audits, and enforce stricter waste‑storage standards. Proactive reforms would not only protect workers and communities but also stabilize Indonesia’s position as a cornerstone of the clean‑energy transition.