Indonesia sanctions 6 firms after 1,511 hectares burn in Kalimantan

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2 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Forestry Ministry has imposed sanctions on six Forest Utilization Business Permit (PBPH) holders following fires covering 1,511.55 hectares across their concession areas in Kalimantan.

The ministry’s Director of Forestry Supervision, Imposition of Administrative Sanctions, and Civil Law, Ardi Risman, said administrative sanctions were imposed on four companies in West Kalimantan: PT WEL, PT FI, PT MPK, and PT WSP.

Sanctions were also imposed on PT NES in Central Kalimantan and PT PSR in East Kalimantan, he noted in a statement on Tuesday.

Risman explained that the sanctions followed repeated forest and land fires in the companies’ working areas. As part of the penalties, the companies are required to strengthen fire prevention and control measures and restore affected areas.

“Government coercion requires companies to comply with specific obligations, including improving fire control systems and restoring affected areas within set timeframes. In the case of PT MPK, we have suspended its business permit and imposed government coercion due to the scale and repeated occurrence of fires,” he stated.

If a company fails to meet these requirements, sanctions can be increased in accordance with regulations, including the revocation of its business permit.

Based on monitoring results, burned areas spanned approximately 760.51 hectares for PT WEL, 394.83 hectares for PT MPK, 107.7 hectares for PT WSP, 95.87 hectares for PT FI, 82.26 hectares for PT PSR, and 70.38 hectares for PT NES.

Risman explained that the sanctions followed an assessment of companies’ implementation of measures to prevent and control forest and land fires within their operational areas. In fire-affected locations, companies may also be required to restore vegetation.

Specifically for peatlands, restoration obligations include improving hydrological functions through water management, canal blocking, peat rewetting, and monitoring groundwater levels.

The ministry’s Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, said permit holders must assume responsibility for protecting areas and preventing damage.

He mentioned that administrative sanctions are intended to address non-compliance and require companies to undertake corrective measures and restoration. However, further legal action may be pursued if criminal activity is suspected.

“We use administrative sanctions to enforce repairs, restoration, and compliance; but if criminal elements are found, the criminal process will continue. This is also a warning to anyone who intentionally burns forests or profits from fires and damage to the area. We will investigate and process them based on the evidence,” he pointed out.