Landslide hits Indonesian nickel tailings site

Spanish Market: Fertilizers, Metals
19/02/26

A landslide on 18 February triggered by heavy rains has caused the collapse of a tailings facility at the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) on the eastern side of Sulawesi.

The facility is operated by battery materials producer QMB New Energy Materials, many market participants said, although the company has denied ownership. The facility serves as a site for tailings disposal generated from nickel production.

Details remain limited, but several pieces of heavy equipment and an operator have been buried and operations are suspended at this stage, according to market participants. This may weigh on nickel production and sulphur and acid demand.

Tailings disposal challenges have persisted since last year. QMB New Energy Materials was previously forced to cut operating rates in November 2025 because of a tailings capacity issue before resuming full operations in December after securing a new disposal site. It remains unclear whether the landslide occurred at this new location.

The high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) process generates an estimated 1.4–1.6t of tailings waste for every 1t of nickel produced.

By Deon Ngee

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19/02/26

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US trade deficit ticks lower in 2025

19/02/26

US trade deficit ticks lower in 2025

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IEA ministerial meeting split over energy transition

19/02/26

IEA ministerial meeting split over energy transition

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South Africa’s Kropz raises phosrock output, grade

19/02/26

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19/02/26

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Landslide hits Indonesian nickel tailings site

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