Six Companies in Kalimantan Sanctioned by Forestry Ministry over Repeated Forest and Land Fires

The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has imposed administrative sanctions on six companies holding Forest Utilisation Business Permits (PBPH) after repeated forest and land fires (karhutla) were discovered in their working areas.

The total burned area reached 1,511.55 hectares. Director of Forestry Supervision, Administrative Sanctions and Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Forestry, Ardi Risman, asked the companies to improve their forest fire control systems and restore the affected land.

“Government coercion gives consequences to companies to fulfil the obligations that have been set, starting from improving the fire control system to restoring affected areas within a specified time limit,” said Ardi in a written statement on Tuesday (25/8).

In affected areas, companies can be ordered to carry out vegetation restoration. Specifically on peatland, restoration obligations include improving hydrological functions through water management arrangements, canal blocking, rewetting of peat, and monitoring of groundwater levels.

The following is a list of six companies in Kalimantan sanctioned by the Ministry of Forestry over forest fires.

PT WEL

Based on the Ministry of Forestry’s supervision results, PT WEL in West Kalimantan is the company with the largest burned area, namely 760.51 hectares. The ministry imposed sanctions in the form of government coercion.

PT MPK

PT MPK was subject to sanctions of suspension of business permits as well as government coercion because the fires that occurred in their area were extensive and repeated, according to the Ministry of Forestry release. According to the ministry’s records, the burned area at PT MPK in West Kalimantan covered 394.83 hectares. Through these sanctions, the company is required to improve its fire control system and restore the affected areas.

PT WSP

The burned land in PT WSP’s working area in West Kalimantan covered 107.70 hectares. The sanction imposed by the ministry was in the form of government coercion.

PT FI

The burned area at PT FI covered 95.87 hectares in East Kalimantan. This company was sanctioned in the form of government coercion.

PT PSR

The burned area at PT PSR covered 82.265 hectares. An examination of this company before the sanction was imposed was carried out by the Directorate of Forestry Supervision, Administrative Sanctions and Civil Affairs. The Ministry of Forestry imposed sanctions in the form of government coercion on PT PSR.

PT NES

The burned area at PT NES covered 70.38 hectares. An examination of this company was also carried out by the Directorate of Forestry Supervision, Administrative Sanctions and Civil Affairs. The Ministry of Forestry imposed sanctions in the form of government coercion.