Environment Ministry Investigates 19 Companies over 11,000 Hectares of Land Fires in 7 Provinces

The Ministry of Environment (KLH) is investigating 19 business entities in seven provinces suspected of causing land fires during the January–August 2026 period. The total area of land burned reached 11,046.69 hectares.

This was conveyed by the Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement at KLH, Inspector General Rizal Irawan, in a joint press conference with BNPB on Monday (31/8/2026). KLH stated that the companies are spread across Sumatra and Kalimantan.

“Law enforcement efforts from January up to yesterday have targeted 19 business entities in seven provinces. That is, in Sumatra there are 3 provinces and in Kalimantan 4 provinces. In West Kalimantan there are 7 business entities where we have installed supervision signs or seals, as well as PPLH lines,” said Rizal in the press conference broadcast via BNPB’s YouTube channel.

He said that in West Kalimantan there are 7 business entities with a burned land area reaching 2,260.08 hectares. His office is also paying attention to findings involving companies in South Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, Lampung, East Kalimantan, and Riau.

“In West Kalimantan there are 7 business entities with a total burned area of 2,260.08 hectares. Then in South Sumatra there are 4 business entities covering 772.72 hectares. In South Kalimantan there are 3 business entities with a total of 6,595.15 hectares, and in Central Kalimantan there are 2 business entities covering 99.40 hectares,” said Rizal.

“In East Kalimantan there is 1 business entity of around 5 hectares. Then in Lampung 1 business entity covering 202.73 hectares and in Riau Province 1 business entity of around 7.10 hectares. So in total there are 19 business entities consisting of 3 provinces in Sumatra and 4 provinces in Kalimantan. The total burned land from the 19 business entities is around 11,046.69 hectares,” he said.

KLH stated that law enforcement against the 19 companies began with satellite monitoring. The ministry is still verifying the business entities in the field.

“We monitor using the satellites we use. After there is a hotspot, we then overlay it, and there are 42 companies with high potential for fires in their concession areas. Currently only 19 companies have been processed because the second batch will be sent a supervisory team tomorrow,” said Rizal.

“Of these 19 companies, we are still conducting verification and further investigation in the field. What is certain is that in these 19 companies there are areas that burned. We will examine whether the land caught fire or was deliberately burned. We must be able to distinguish whether the company is a land burner or its land was burned,” he added.

Although the status of the 19 companies in Sumatra and Kalimantan has not yet been determined, KLH emphasised that the companies still bear strict liability. This is based on the fact that the burned land is part of the companies’ concession areas.

“Regardless of whether it was burned or caught fire, when a fire occurs within a concession area, strict liability attaches to it. So the company will be held accountable, both through administrative sanctions and civil claims,” he said.

Rizal also explained the environmental disputes processed by KLH during the 2023–2025 period. In total there are 32 dispute cases with environmental losses estimated at Rp 5.3 trillion.

“For the 2023 to 2025 period that has not been completed, there are a total of 32 cases with potential environmental losses of Rp 5.3 trillion. That is the loss value in the documents we submitted. Then for restoration measures, we must distinguish between environmental losses of Rp 5.3 trillion and restoration measures whose value reaches Rp 9.5 trillion. So do not combine them,” he concluded.