Indonesia probes 356 companies over forest, land fires: Minister

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2 hours ago

Yogyakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Environment is investigating at least 356 companies nationwide after fires broke out across their concession areas and adjacent forests.

“We are verifying all companies whose concession areas have burned. This involves a substantial number — at least 356 companies,” Environment Minister Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat told reporters here on Thursday.

Hidayat said the scale and circumstances of the fires vary widely, necessitating a thorough verification process before penalties are determined.

“The patterns differ from case to case. We cannot rush to judgment. Some burned areas span two, five, or ten hectares, while others cover hundreds of hectares, including oil palm plantations and agricultural estates,” he said.

The primary objective of the audit is to establish liability — specifically whether the blazes stemmed from gross negligence, willful neglect, or intentional criminal acts.

“The verification process will clarify this. We must be fair — it will reveal which parties acted with criminal intent, which were negligent, and which warrant legal action,” the minister added.

While Hidayat declined to name the companies currently under scrutiny, he warned that those found guilty will face severe administrative and legal sanctions.

“We have not finalized the specific measures yet. However, potential sanctions include freezing operations and revoking business permits,” he said.

Hidayat noted that the overall fire situation across the archipelago has improved considerably in recent days, aided by the onset of seasonal rainfall and intensified ground containment efforts.

“Conditions have improved, thankfully, as rains continue. More than 70,000 personnel have been deployed around the clock to extinguish the blazes — not just state personnel, but a broad multi-agency coalition,” Hidayat said.

“Without their efforts, the impact would have been far more devastating, and we deeply commend their dedication,” he concluded.