Recurring forest fires: Ministry of Forestry suspends PT MPK's licence
The Forestry Ministry has suspended the business permit of PT MPK and simultaneously imposed government enforcement sanctions due to extensive and recurring fires on the company’s concession in West Kalimantan.
Ardi Risman, Director of Forestry Supervision, Administrative Sanctions and Civil Affairs at the ministry, said PT MPK is one of six companies holding Forest Utilisation Business Permits in Kalimantan that have been subject to administrative sanctions related to forest and land fires.
The five other companies were subject to government enforcement sanctions.
The six companies are PT WEL, PT FI, PT MPK and PT WSP in West Kalimantan, PT NES in Central Kalimantan, and PT PSR in East Kalimantan.
Based on monitoring results, the largest burned area was recorded at PT WEL with approximately 760.51 hectares, followed by PT MPK with 394.83 hectares, PT WSP with 107.7 hectares, PT FI with 95.87 hectares, PT PSR with 82.26 hectares, and PT NES with 70.38 hectares.
The total burned area across the six companies reached 1,511.55 hectares.
The sanctions follow monitoring of companies’ obligations to prevent and control forest and land fires within their working areas.
Four companies in West Kalimantan were previously inspected directly by the Kalimantan Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Office on 10–14 August 2026, while the handling of PT NES and PT PSR was carried out by the Directorate of Supervision, Administrative Sanctions and Civil Affairs.
The inspections covered the readiness of fire control teams, firefighting equipment, water sources, watchtowers, canal blocks, and early detection and response systems.
In affected areas, companies may also be ordered to carry out vegetation restoration. On peatland specifically, restoration obligations include improving hydrological functions through water management, canal blocking, rewetting of peat, and monitoring of groundwater levels.
“Government enforcement imposes consequences on companies to fulfil the obligations that have been set, from improving fire control systems to restoring affected areas within a specified timeframe,” Ardi said.
For PT MPK specifically, he said, the ministry imposed a business permit suspension as well as government enforcement because the fires occurred extensively and repeatedly.
“The implementation of all these obligations will be monitored and evaluated. If they are not fulfilled, sanctions can be escalated in accordance with the provisions, including up to revocation of the business permit,” he said.
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho said business permits grant the right to manage forest areas, but they carry with them the obligation to protect the area and prevent damage.
“We use administrative sanctions to compel improvement, restoration and compliance. But when criminal elements are found, the criminal process continues,” he said.
According to him, the ministry will also investigate parties who deliberately set forest fires or profited from the fires and damage to the area based on evidence.
The ministry reminded all permit holders to make forest fire prevention part of routine business management, especially during fire-prone periods.
If other violations are found that meet criminal elements or there are losses for which accountability can be sought, criminal, administrative or civil instruments may be pursued in accordance with the provisions.