Environment Minister Urges Palm Oil Collectors to Share Responsibility in Preventing Forest Fires
Environment Minister Muhammad Jumhur Hidayat has urged palm oil end buyers not only to reap huge profits from Indonesia’s resources but also to shoulder the moral responsibility of preventing forest and land fires (karhutla). “I have very seriously invited the CPO end buyers. I ask that they not just pay lip service, but show good intentions and what steps can be taken to help here,” Jumhur said while inspecting the construction of canal blocks on Mendol Island, Kuala Kampar, Riau, on Thursday (18/6/2026). “Please unite and discuss this, because you derive high profits from the production processes sourced from CPO,” he said. “Please think morally about how to help the communities here so that karhutla disasters do not occur. I invite your cooperation,” he stressed.
On that occasion, Jumhur explained that peatlands must not be allowed to dry out. Therefore, it is crucial to carry out mitigation by ensuring the land remains inundated through the construction of canal blocks. “The fact is, if peatland is not continuously flooded and is simultaneously exposed to sunlight, it becomes susceptible to heating up and catching fire,” he explained. He stated that to face the predicted prolonged El Niño cycle, the government has coordinated with the National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) to conduct cloud seeding operations or Weather Modification Technology (TMC). “After these canal blocks are properly built, we will find the right time to conduct artificial rain so the water can be retained. We hope that during this long El Niño, there will be no more fires,” he added.
Nationally, Indonesia requires around 540,000 canal blocks to reduce the potential for fires to near zero. However, to date, only about 10 per cent have been realised. “We need to build 540,000 canal blocks. Currently, we have only built a total of around 50,000, so about 10 per cent,” he said. According to him, the main obstacles to construction include financing, public education, and adjusting the activities of residents affected by the canal block development. “Of course, we invite anyone to participate in accelerating and expanding the construction of canal blocks across the republic,” he concluded.