[follow-up report by SMM] Flood in Indonesia affects the resumption of production of nickel ore and resumption of shipment

Published: Jun 19, 2019 05:13

SMM6, 19 March: in early June, heavy rainfall triggered floods on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. According to the notice of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Konawe,North Konawe,Konawe Island and East Kolaka District were most affected by the floods, with 67 villages covered by floods. In addition, according to the latest report, the floods resulted in 1391 houses, eight school facilities, three public health facilities, 970 hectares of rice fields, 83 hectares of corn fields and 420 hectares of water and mud-covered fish ponds; 202 houses were washed away, three bridges were damaged and some 9788 people were forced to evacuate themselves.

South Sulawesi has two flood-affected areas, the Sidrap and Wajo areas. In the Sidrap district, 16 villages were covered by floods in three different subdistricts (Dua Pitue,Pitu Riase and Pitu Riawa subdistricts). In central Sulawesi, 45 houses were affected by the floods and seven were severely damaged by the floods. A total of 561 families were evacuated from the villages of Lele and Dampala in Morowali Regency. In addition, as one of the main and largest rivers in East Kalimantan Province, the Mahakam River has been flooded by heavy rainfall in the area, resulting in floods in three different areas, the, Kutai Kartanegara District of Samarinda City and the Paser District.

Previously, due to the flood, affecting the shipment of nickel mines, nickel pig iron plants also have an impact. However, after the 15th, the weather in Indonesia improved. According to SMM research, the mine resumed shipment one after another last week. Eight ore heaters in the nickel pig iron plant in the Konawe area have been suspended due to floods on June 13, and all production has now resumed. The logistics of nickel pig iron plants in the Morowali area was affected, but production was not affected, while factories and mines in the rest of the region, such as South Sulawesi and Obi Island, were not affected.

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