TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former member of the Energy Commission at the House of Representatives (DPR) for the 2019-2024 term, Mulyanto, urges the Prabowo-led government to evaluate the minerals downstream program after a series of work accidents occurred at the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), Central Sulawesi. 

In the span of five days, two explosions occurred at PT Dexin Steel Indonesia (DSI) on Friday, October 25, 2024, and at PT Zhongtsing New Energy (ZTEN) on Wednesday, October 30. These two incidents were confirmed by the Media Relations Head of PT IMIP, Dedy Kurniawan.

"The government should not ease permits for smelter industry management before ensuring they are safe to operate,” Mulyanto told Tempo on Thursday, October 31.

Mulyanto said the recent workplace accidents must serve as momentum for Indonesia to renew its mineral resources management. He also urged the government not to solely prioritize investment deposits. "Safety of workers is paramount," said Mulyanto, adding that frequent explosions at smelters that harm workers are a “saddening” phenomenon. 

The Chairman of the IMIP Mining Industry Labor Union (SBIPE), Henry Foord Jebss, said that a series of work accidents in the IMIP area left trauma for the workers. Moreover, a major explosion occurred at PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) last December 24, killing 21 workers. Henry said there is no sense of security for workers in their employment.

"There is no good faith from the companies and the state to protect the workers at IMIP,” said Henry when contacted by phone on Wednesday night, October 30.

Henry said the labor union has often filed demands to the companies, but they have been ignored. "That's what makes us disappointed in the company and the state," said Henry. "They talk about the impact of the downstream industry, but us workers have fallen victim due to downstream itself. We are bleeding.” 

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