Chinese-owned nickel smelter operational after a Chinese and an Indonesian worker died during riot
- A Chinese and an Indonesian worker died, while vehicles and dormitories were torched during clashes at the PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry (GNI) smelter
- GNI said it is working with police to investigate the cause of this weekend’s clashes
An Indonesian and a Chinese worker died, while vehicles and dormitories were torched during the clashes at the PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry (GNI) smelter, a unit of Jiangsu DeLong, which involved protesters, workers and security guards.
“The situation at GNI in North Morowali is relatively conducive and the company today has restarted operation,” Central Sulawesi police spokesperson Didik Supranoto said in a statement.
“Hundreds of employees have arrived at the site,” he added, sharing a video showing workers wearing grey uniforms and yellow helmets arriving on motorcycles while police officers guarded the entrance into the facility.
GNI could not be reached for comment. In a statement on Monday, it said it is working with police to investigate the cause of the clashes.
Indonesia’s police chief on Monday said more than 500 police and military personnel have been deployed to secure the nickel smelting facility, and more would reinforce.