October 19, 2025 | 11:46 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Philippine authorities will investigate the source of a shipment of 14 containers of zinc concentrate powder, commonly used for battery powder, from the Philippines to Indonesia, after the powder was found to be contaminated with radioactive material, specifically Cesium-137.
"This is likely an isolated contamination case without widespread danger to the public," said Minister of Science and Technology Renato Solidum Jr, as quoted in The Straits Times on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
He stated that the containers, which will be returned to the Philippines by the end of October, have not been opened and no radiation has been detected outside. "There is no risk to the ship's crew. Once they arrive, these containers will be inspected and returned to a safe warehouse," Renato said.
According to a source familiar with the case, the containers were shipped to Indonesia by a trading company based in China with an office in the Philippines. The source requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.
Prior to this, Indonesia halted the import of scrap metal after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detected traces of radioactive Cesium-137 in frozen shrimp and cloves from Indonesia in August.
Further investigations in Indonesia in September found Cesium-137 in a metal processing facility in the industrial area of Cikande, Banten. The facility is known to supply materials for the construction and manufacturing sectors and is located near the related frozen shrimp factory.
For reference, Cesium-137 is a man-made radioactive isotope used in medical devices, measuring instruments, and is a by-product of nuclear fission in reactors and nuclear weapon testing.
Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, exposure to Cesium-137 can increase the risk of cancer, especially if inhaled or dispersed through the air.
Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, as Chief of the Task Force for Handling Radioactive Cesium-137, stated that he had written to the Ministry of Industry to restrict the import of scrap from overseas after finding Cs-137 belonging to PT Lucky One, originating from the Philippines.
Regarding PT PMT, a steel smelting plant in Cikande, Serang, Banten, which is the source of the radioactive Cesium-137 exposure, Hanif mentioned the initial findings that the scrap came from 15 stalls with no imported goods.
However, he said that because Lucky One and PT PMT are located in the Cikande area, they are currently investigating the potential transactions between the two companies. 'We are currently conducting checks,' Hanif said when interviewed by Tempo at his office in Jakarta on Sunday, October 5.
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