Unaaha Court Begins Site Inspection in Environmental Lawsuit Against Nickel Firms PT OSS and PT VDNI
KONAWE — The Unaaha District Court in Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, has commenced proceedings in an environmental violation lawsuit involving the coal-fired power plants (PLTU) of PT Obsidian Stainless Steel (PT OSS) and PT Virtue Dragon Nickel Industry (PT VDNI), filed by the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) Southeast Sulawesi.
"As of today, Thursday 19 June 2025, the Unaaha District Court has conducted a site inspection related to the environmental lawsuit under case number 28/Pdt.Sus-LH/2024/PN Unh, filed by WALHI Southeast Sulawesi together with affected residents," said WALHI Southeast Sulawesi Director Andi Rahman in a press statement.
According to Andi Rahman, the lawsuit targets the two largest nickel industry companies in Southeast Sulawesi — PT OSS and PT VDNI — which operate in Morosi District, Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.
"The inspection was carried out to directly examine field conditions and vital objects that form the basis of the lawsuit, including residents' fish ponds that have been severely damaged by industrial activity, as well as a number of indicative points of environmental pollution," said Andi Rahman.
He stated that the site inspection serves as important evidence that the environmental problems caused by the operations of PT OSS and PT VDNI are not merely discourse, but a tangible reality that has directly harmed residents.
"The destruction of fish ponds and the declining quality of the environment have caused significant economic losses for fish farmers. In addition, residents continue to report health complaints such as shortness of breath, skin irritation, and other respiratory problems due to dust and emissions from the captive power plant and massive industrial activity," Andi Rahman disclosed.
Residents present at the site inspection directly conveyed their complaints to the panel of judges, showing ponds buried under sedimentation, contaminated by waste, and increasingly difficult access to clean water.
"This inspection is part of the evidentiary process in the unlawful act lawsuit filed on the basis of environmental damage, violations of the right to health, and economic losses suffered by residents due to pollution from industrial activity, particularly from the captive power plant and nickel production operations," Andi explained.
Andi Rahman emphasised that the case represents an important precedent for environmental law enforcement in Southeast Sulawesi.
"For this reason, we at WALHI Southeast Sulawesi hope that this legal process can serve as a moment to halt reckless industrialisation practices that disregard the safety of people's living spaces," Andi Rahman declared.
"As of today, Thursday 19 June 2025, the Unaaha District Court has conducted a site inspection related to the environmental lawsuit under case number 28/Pdt.Sus-LH/2024/PN Unh, filed by WALHI Southeast Sulawesi together with affected residents," said WALHI Southeast Sulawesi Director Andi Rahman in a press statement.
According to Andi Rahman, the lawsuit targets the two largest nickel industry companies in Southeast Sulawesi — PT OSS and PT VDNI — which operate in Morosi District, Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.
"The inspection was carried out to directly examine field conditions and vital objects that form the basis of the lawsuit, including residents' fish ponds that have been severely damaged by industrial activity, as well as a number of indicative points of environmental pollution," said Andi Rahman.
He stated that the site inspection serves as important evidence that the environmental problems caused by the operations of PT OSS and PT VDNI are not merely discourse, but a tangible reality that has directly harmed residents.
"The destruction of fish ponds and the declining quality of the environment have caused significant economic losses for fish farmers. In addition, residents continue to report health complaints such as shortness of breath, skin irritation, and other respiratory problems due to dust and emissions from the captive power plant and massive industrial activity," Andi Rahman disclosed.
Residents present at the site inspection directly conveyed their complaints to the panel of judges, showing ponds buried under sedimentation, contaminated by waste, and increasingly difficult access to clean water.
"This inspection is part of the evidentiary process in the unlawful act lawsuit filed on the basis of environmental damage, violations of the right to health, and economic losses suffered by residents due to pollution from industrial activity, particularly from the captive power plant and nickel production operations," Andi explained.
Andi Rahman emphasised that the case represents an important precedent for environmental law enforcement in Southeast Sulawesi.
"For this reason, we at WALHI Southeast Sulawesi hope that this legal process can serve as a moment to halt reckless industrialisation practices that disregard the safety of people's living spaces," Andi Rahman declared.