IT was a hot day in December 2021. Dust from the red dirt road in Kolono Morowali Village, Central Sulawesi, was blown into the air when a white truck carrying nickel passed through it. From PT Sulawesi Resources mine road junction, the 30-ton capacity truck proceeded downhill along the side of the Laronsong River towards the port.

Writing on the sign erected at a post guarded by two men in brown uniform declared that the port is owned by PT Oti