The Ministry of Environment has uncovered a series of serious environmental violations at the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) − a major nickel-based industrial zone spanning 2,000 hectares (ha) in Central Sulawesi − including illegal land clearing, unlicensed facilities, improper waste disposal, and dangerously high pollution levels.

Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, said the ministry discovered that several operational facilities within IMIP are not listed in the park’s approved Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) documents.

“This is a major concern. PT IMIP, as the area’s managing body, must comply with environmental approvals. All unapproved activities must be halted immediately,” Hanif said as quoted in a statement on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

One of the most alarming findings was the unauthorized land clearing of approximately 179 ha adjacent to the industrial park. Additionally, the ministry reported that over 1,800 ha of land are being used for industrial activities without inclusion in the approved AMDAL documentation.

Further violations include the illegal stockpiling of nickel slag and tailings on more than 10 ha, with estimated volumes exceeding 12 million tons. These hazardous waste materials are being stored without proper permits, posing significant environmental risks.

The ministry also flagged the absence of a centralized wastewater treatment plant (IPAL) within the industrial zone. As a result, untreated industrial wastewater is polluting surrounding ecosystems.

Air quality in the region has also been deemed unhealthy, based on monitoring results showing ambient dust (TSP) and PM10 levels exceeding national standards. Investigations revealed that 24 emission sources from tenant companies lacked Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS), which are required by law to track air pollutants in real time.

At the Bahomakmur Integrated Waste Processing Facility (TPST), the ministry found operations running without proper environmental approval, and leachate from unmanaged waste was identified as a pollution risk to nearby areas.

In response, Deputy Minister for Environmental Law Enforcement, Inspector General Rizal Irawan, announced that the environment ministry will pursue multiple legal actions against violators.

“We will impose administrative sanctions such as government coercion and fines. An environmental audit will be conducted for the entire IMIP zone,” Rizal said.

He added that for the illegal tailings storage, the ministry is preparing to pursue both criminal and civil lawsuits, signaling the government’s firm stance on holding industrial actors accountable for environmental degradation.

The findings at IMIP, home to 28 operating companies and 14 under construction, highlight growing concerns over the environmental cost of Indonesia's expanding nickel industry − a sector critical to the global electric vehicle supply chain.