The operator of the nickel smelter, Indonesia's Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP), said that due to the floods, the smelter has ceased operations. The smelter is controlled by China's Tsingshan Holding Group and France's Eramet.
IWIP said in a statement that after two days of heavy rain, parts of the Hamahera Industrial Park in Indonesia were flooded Wednesday.
"At present, the management of IWIP is organizing an evacuation, and the activities of the smelter are temporarily suspended until the flood subsides."
The company played a video of a partially flooded street in an industrial park, and an excavator was cleaning the street.
IWIP spokesperson Bilal Zhau said in the video that floods in some areas have receded and activities have begun to return to normal.
The company said the flood did not cause casualties.
Weda Bay is one of the projects listed as a "national priority project" by the Indonesian government. The purpose is to promote domestic nickel processing when Indonesia stops exporting unprocessed nickel ore.
Weda Bay started operations in April this year, with an annual output of 30,000 tons.
