Why Miners Risk Their Lives To Get Sulfur From An Active Volcano | Risky Business

Narrator: Hundreds of

miners

work inside an

active

volcano

here in Indonesia, fighting toxic fumes all day long. They are mining

sulfur

, which locals call "devil's gold." Working conditions here are so dangerous that many

miners

do not live to be more than 50 years old. Narrator: Miners like Mistar carry up to 200 pounds of

sulfur

on

their

backs up and down these steep cliffs. And Mistar has been doing it for 30 years. Narrator: Sulfur is used in everything from matches and rubber to cosmetic products. It's even what makes our sugar white. Narrator: But most of the world's sulfur comes from oil and gas refining, making volcanic mines like this relatively obsolete.

However, these miners continue working and earn between 12 and 17 dollars a day. Because in this remote part of Indonesia, it is one of the best paying jobs. Narrator: So why does this form of sulfur mining still exist, and what makes it such a

risk

y

business

? Narrator: Mistar can get here on his bicycle. There are no roads to the crater, so he has to walk the rest of the way. It is a 2 mile hike to the ridge of Ijen Volcano. He only carries his basket and a crowbar into the 300 meter deep crater. Narrator: Here he faces the extreme environment of the

volcano

.

The air can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. And it works near one of the most toxic volcanic lakes in the world. Narrator: And there's the smoke. Narrator: Fight two types of sulfur smoke. The first comes from the depths of the volcano and is channeled through these conduits. Narrator: Although the mining company PT Candi Ngrimbi has a license to operate the mine, the miners are independent contractors, so they have to pay for

their

own equipment. And many cannot afford gas masks. Instead, they use handkerchiefs or towels dipped in water to prevent the sulfur powder from sticking. The second type of smoke is even more dangerous.

It comes from volcanic gases found beneath the acidic lake and can be deadly. So if the miners see large clouds of fine white smoke coming from the lake, they have to evacuate. Narrator: That's why Mistar needs to arrive so early. The winds intensify throughout the day and blow more white smoke towards the miners. Both types of smoke have long-lasting health effects. Narrator: But the smoke from inside the volcano is crucial for sulfur production. Is that how it works. When the superhot smoke reaches the cooler air outside, it condenses the liquid and drips from the pipe. Narrator: As it solidifies and cools, the sulfur will turn yellow and miners will be able to begin breaking blocks.

It is the two colors of sulfur that give it the name devil's gold. Miners use their own hands to move these blocks. Although touching solid sulfur can often cause rashes and blisters, Mistar says that as long as it is cold and yellow, the sulfur can be touched. Narrator: Before the pandemic, miners could mine up to 25 tons a day, but since 2020 they have been working two separate shifts to maintain social distancing. This reduced the miners' capacity to only 10 tons of sulfur per day. Once he fills his baskets, Mistar carries them over his shoulder to walk back. But that sulfur is no light burden.

Narrator: That's about 154 pounds. Mistar himself weighs only 132. Narrator: Some of the younger miners can carry up to 200 pounds in a load. Narrator: They have to drag him up the steep walls of the crater. Narrator: Some make the dangerous hike in flip-flops. Narrator: Once he reaches the crater rim, Mistar can transfer the sulfur to his cart and begin the 2-mile trip back. And today he will make this trip for the second time. Narrator: PT Candi Ngrimbi, the mining company, also owns this weighing station and the factory where the sulfur ends up. At the factory, workers boil the sulfur and pass it through a series of filters.

They have to remove any contaminants such as sand or dirt. They then pour it onto the factory floor to cool. The sulfur is loaded into sacks and sent to nearby sugar factories. It is processed to obtain sulfuric acid, the most used chemical in the world. It is used in everything from matches, fireworks and gunpowder to detergent, paper and batteries. It's what makes sugar white. And it is an essential ingredient in rubber products and even wine making. But 98% of the world's sulfur comes from oil and gas refining. It is a byproduct of refining and oil companies are required by law to process it safely.

What is created is a large amount of pure sulfur, a purity necessary to manufacture products such as fertilizers. Today, the oil and gas sulfur industry is worth nearly $13 billion and is expected to continue growing. And it has made natural mines and volcanoes unnecessary, especially because the sulfur extracted is not as pure. It may be acidic or contain sand. However, Ijen is one of the only places left in the world where people still mine sulfur in this way. So why do they do it, despite the danger? For the mining company, it is easier and cheaper to obtain sulfur from Ijen.

For sulfur miners, the salary is much higher than other jobs on the island, such as agriculture. Narrator: The mining company pays by the weight of its loads. They receive about 9 cents per kilo. With two uploads, Mistar can earn $17 a day. The mining company did not respond to our request for comment on why miners are paid so little for what is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Another possible reason why this mine is still open? Tourism. At night, visitors come here to see the blue flame of sulfur gas. During the day, tourists go up to enjoy the views.

Protected by their gas masks, they watch the miners work without their own masks. Some miners are now becoming tour guides or making sulfur souvenirs, but most continue working as usual. Narrator: At the end of the day, Mistar returns home to have dinner with his family and rest. Ijen looms over them, a symbol of how Mistar maintains his family's life, while he slowly takes his own. A great weight to carry on his shoulders.