Palm Oil Firms Inspected to Anticipate Forest and Land Fires as Agriculture Ministry Checks Water Pumps and Fire-Monitoring Towers

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) carried out an unannounced inspection of palm oil companies to assess preparedness against forest and land fires. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said that the risk of fires must be anticipated, especially as the El Niño Godzilla phenomenon could trigger extended drought in several regions. Amran said all stakeholders, particularly palm oil firms, must prevent forest and land fires during the dry season. ‘Do not wait for a fire to break out before acting; prevention must be the primary step,’ he said in an official Ministry of Agriculture statement on Friday (22 May 2026).

Acting Director General of Plantations, Ali Jamil, and Director of Plantation Protection from the Musi Banyuasin Plantation Service went directly to the field. A team from the South Sumatra Plantation Service also participated in the checks. The inspections covered the fire-control task force, human resources, early warning systems, reporting systems, and firefighting facilities.

Several items checked included water pumps, rubber boats, personal protective equipment, gepyok, hoses, embung, and fire-monitoring towers. These requirements are regulated under Minister of Agriculture Regulation No. 6 of 2025 on opening and/or processing plantation land without burning. ‘We want to ensure all fire-control facilities truly function optimally and are ready for use at any time,’ Ali said. Real-time fire-spotting systems still need strengthening. Companies were also asked to add fire-monitoring towers, maintain embung for drought water supply, and increase pump installation. In addition, firms were asked to carry out routine maintenance of firefighting equipment. The management of the companies stated commitment to improving the land-fire control system to operate more effectively.