Makassarviral.com, Makassar, Rabu, 30/09/2026 — PT Vale completed farmland restoration and compensation for communities after an oil spill in Towuti a year earlier.
Restoration Overview
PT Vale addressed a major oil spill that contaminated rivers, irrigation channels and rice fields in Towuti, Luwu Timur.
The company formed an integrated recovery team, conducted soil cleaning, and replanted rice in demonstration plots across six impacted villages: Matompi, Langkea Raya, Lioka Polapi, Timampu, Baruga, and Lioka Molindowe.
Bernardus Irmanto, CEO and President Director of PT Vale Indonesia, apologized to farmers and residents of Lioka, Langkea Raya, Baruga, Matompi, Wawondula, and Timampu, acknowledging the disruption to water, land and livelihoods, Rabu, 30/09/2026.
Compensation to affected residents reached 91.14 percent and 88.75 percent of 1,280 complaints had been resolved by the time of the report.
Soil from contaminated rice fields was excavated and taken to the company’s smelting facility to remove oil, while oil booms and traps were deployed in rivers and irrigation channels.
Vale engaged experts from the Disaster Risk Reduction Center of Universitas Indonesia (DRRC UI) and Hasanuddin University to assess environmental impact.
Testing showed water quality in Lake Towuti met class‑2 standards and air samples in Dusun Molindoe remained below national ambient air quality limits.
Subhan, Head of Agriculture and Food Resilience of Luwu Timur, confirmed that the demonstration plot harvest appeared normal and showed no abnormalities, Rabu, 30/09/2026.
Community participation was extensive, with more than 220 residents from the six villages assisting in river cleaning, drainage work and agricultural site preparation.
The response also included the establishment of a crisis center involving local government, environmental agency, BPBD, police, TNI, district and village heads, which coordinated the handling of 1,280 complaints.
ESG performance benefited from the remediation effort; Vale’s ESG Risk Rating improved, helping the company retain its ESG rating.
The recovery program is documented on Vale’s website under the Towuti Oil Leakage Recovery page, which tracks progress and production data.
Community and Environmental Outcomes
Overall, the coordinated effort between PT Vale, government agencies and local communities restored agricultural land, reestablished water quality and rebuilt trust, demonstrating a model for corporate environmental responsibility.
The initiative highlighted the importance of transparent communication and joint action in managing industrial crises.
