Minister weighs revoking IMIP tenant’s permit after deadly incidents

Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq is conducting a comprehensive review of a company operating in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) in Central Sulawesi, with the possibility of revoking its environmental approval.

Speaking after a limited coordination meeting chaired by the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs in Jakarta on Monday, Hanif — who also serves as head of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH) — said two fatal workplace accidents had occurred at PT QMB, a tenant within the IMIP area in Morowali Regency.

“We are conducting an in-depth review and will soon formulate a decision to revoke the environmental approval,” Hanif said, as reported by Antara.

Read also : Operations halted at QMB Morowali after tailings landslide kills worker

The review follows concerns over workplace safety and activities allegedly carried out without the required permits. According to the minister, the company had conducted tailings disposal — waste residue from mineral ore processing — without securing the necessary authorization.

“I will impose civil and criminal sanctions, as well as revoke its environmental approval, because it has caused two fatalities,” he said.

Earlier, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that one person died in a landslide in the IMIP area. The incident occurred on Wednesday (Feb. 18) and was reported on Friday (Feb. 20).

BNPB said the landslide struck an operational area, burying a worker under debris. The victim was later found dead. Several units of heavy equipment were also reportedly buried by the ground movement.

In a separate statement, IMIP management said the landslide occurred in a mining waste disposal area operated by QMB, one of the industrial park’s tenant companies.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak