Ministry of Environment imposes sanctions on 3,000 companies for environmental non-compliance

The Minister of Environment/Head of the Environmental Control Agency, Moh Jumhur Hidayat, stated that his office has imposed sanctions on approximately 3,000 companies for failing to comply with environmental regulations. Speaking at an event in Jakarta on Monday, the Minister noted that more than 3,000 entities have been penalised by the ministry.

Furthermore, he revealed that 447 regencies and cities across Indonesia have received administrative sanctions from the Ministry of Environment (KLH) because local governments neglected their duties and functions in environmental management. Using waste management as an example, the Minister noted that while the central government is responsible for regulation and supervision, the responsibility for waste management lies with mayors, regents, and governors. He observed that over the past decade, many local authorities have failed to perform these duties, resulting in sanctions for 447 out of the 552 regencies and cities in the country.

Jumhur Hidayat stated that the Ministry of Environment continues to strive for sustainable development. In this effort, the ministry does not apply environmental regulations rigidly, but rather seeks compromises to find solutions to environmental issues that also provide economic benefits to the community. “There are companies that employ tens of thousands of workers and establish industrial activities, which then encounter environmental issues. I advise them to find appropriate technology, rather than simply resorting to closures and seals, because tens of thousands of people depend on those companies for their livelihoods,” said the Minister.

Finally, the Minister called upon all elements of society to undergo an ‘ecological repentance’ as part of the effort to resolve the current environmental crisis. “I invite everyone to engage in ecological repentance, especially those who are damaging the environment in Indonesia,” he concluded.