Bahlil Sends Investigation Team To Investigate Cause Of Freeport Smelter Fire In Gresik

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: Doc. VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia stated that his party had sent a team to investigate the cause of the fire at the PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) mineral smelter facility in the Gresik Special Economic Zone, East Java.

Bahlil in Depok, West Java, Wednesday, said that he had communicated with PTFI President Director Tony Wenas regarding the incident on Monday (14/10).

"We have, Mr. Tony Wenas also communicated with me, there are more investigations, my team is also conducting investigations," Bahlil said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, October 17.

From the fire incident, the most important thing is the absence of casualties.

He also said that fires at the smelting facility were common.

"Alhamdulillah, there are no victims, so now research is still being carried out, that's normal," he said.

Previously, PT Freeport Indonesia confirmed that the fire that occurred in the Gresik Special Economic Zone smelter, East Java, on Monday (14/10) at 17.45 WIB, had no negative impact on public health and the surrounding environment.

Tony ensured that the fire, which is located in the clean gas separation facility, was completely extinguished and employees were confirmed safe and no injuries were reported.

Clean gas separation facilities serve, among others, as a series of processes that clean exhaust gases from harmful substances such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) so that the removed air is free from harmful gas contamination.