JAKARTA, October 2, 2025 – Aksi Ekologi dan Emansipasi Rakyat (AEER) urges commitment to due diligence regulations, industrial waste monitoring, and improvement of practices in the steel sector. This demand follows the government’s statement that PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT), a steel smelting plant in Indonesia’s largest industrial area – Kawasan Industri Modern Cikande – caused a serious incident of contamination with the radionuclide Cesium-137 (Cs-137), detected in shrimp product containers belonging to PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS), located approximately 3 km from the PT PMT plant within the industrial zone.

Pius Ginting, AEER Coordinator, assessed that the PT PMT case reflects the weak implementation of adequate due diligence in the Indonesian steel industry supply chain, particularly in relation to environmental safety and public health aspects. One of the gaps  for the entry of radionuclide contaminants is the limitation of the material origin tracking system and weak supervision of scrap metal imports. In the case of PT PMT, they received imported scrap metal from the Philippines which was later found to contain Cs-137 contaminants. This condition underscores the importance of implementing strict raw material verification standards as part of due diligence in the steel smelting industry.

In addition, as the steel decarbonization agenda gains momentum, the processing of scrap metal using Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology is expected to increase. Therefore, industry compliance with these standards must also be a major concern in order to ensure environmental protection and public safety.

Titis Fitriani, AEER Energy and Environmental Policy Specialist, added that the government needs to tighten supervision of steel industry waste and reevaluate the classification of steel slag waste as non-Hazardous and Toxic Waste (non-B3). The Ministry of Environment and Forestry found that the PT PMT case originated from the discovery of a pile of slag material from metal smelting contaminated with Cs-137. Currently, steel slag waste is no longer classified as B3 waste under Government Regulation No. 22 of 2021 (PP No. 22 tahun 2021), although it was previously classified as B3 in Government Regulation No. 101 of 2014 PP No. 101 Tahun 2014 and Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation (Permen LHK) No. P.10/MENLHK/SETJEN/PLB.3/4/2020.

Open storage of steel slag can increase the risk of environmental contamination. Fine radioactive Cs-137 dust can spread through wind, rain, or surface water flow. This case highlights the urgency of evaluating steel slag waste management policies and ensuring that waste is handled safely. In the context of hazardous waste, covering materials with a waterproof layer is a form of waste dispersion mitigation.

Given the vastness of the Cikande Industrial Area as one of the largest industrial areas in Indonesia, the government’s swift action in handling the contamination should be appreciated for keeping exposure under control. However, what is more crucial is increased coordination among stakeholders, strengthening safety standards and due diligence in the supply chain and waste processing, transparent reporting, and regular industrial supervision. Without a firm and preventive action framework, the government will continue to be reactive to crises, with public trust and health at stake.

Photo: Antara News