GEM maintains Indonesia nickel permit after landslide
GEM confirmed its Indonesian nickel venture permit remains valid after a fatal landslide. The company has finished repairs and is resuming full production.
China-based GEM has confirmed that the environmental permit for its nickel and cobalt joint venture in Indonesia remains valid. The announcement follows a fatal landslide last month that prompted the local government to consider revoking the project's operating license.
The incident occurred at the PT QMB New Energy Materials facility in Central Sulawesi, where heavy rainfall caused a temporary waste-storage site to collapse. GEM reported on Monday that all rectification work required by the authorities has been completed. The landslide specifically affected the project's high-pressure acid leaching capacity.
GEM is ensuring full capacity can be reached as soon as possible by accelerating the construction of a permanent waste-storage site.
While the operation was forced to halt nearly all production immediately after the landslide, which resulted in the death of a contractor, GEM is now working to restore full output. The company is accelerating the construction of a permanent waste-storage facility to prevent future occurrences. Currently, the site is undergoing routine annual maintenance lasting one to two weeks during the Eid holiday period.
PT QMB New Energy Materials is a joint venture led by GEM, with other shareholders including the stainless steel and nickel giant Tsingshan Group. Despite the recent disruption, the venture has produced nearly 20,000 metric tons of nickel and approximately 1,800 tons of cobalt so far in 2026, representing year-on-year increases of 10% and 20%, respectively.
The stability of such projects is closely monitored by investors in the battery metals sector, including those following firms like Nickel 28 Capital Corp. and COBALT BLUE HOLDINGS LTD. GEM continues to prioritize safety and infrastructure upgrades to maintain its production trajectory in the region.
