Three Companies in East Kalimantan Sanctioned Over Forest Fires
The Minister of Forestry, Raja Antoni, has announced the suspension of business licences for three companies in East Kalimantan related to the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla). The freeze affects three specific entities in the province.
This announcement was made following an inspection of fire management efforts in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) region on Monday (14/9). The inspection was conducted alongside the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lt. Gen. TNI Suharyanto, and the Head of the Nusantara Capital City Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono.
“So today, I am announcing the suspension of business licences for three companies in East Kalimantan. In addition to the suspension of business licences, forced ecosystem or environmental restoration is also being implemented, and if there are indications of criminal activity, it will be pursued by the Ministry of Forestry’s Law Enforcement Unit and the Regional Police,” said Minister Raja Antoni.
The three companies are PT Puji Sempurna Raharja, located in Berau, which holds a Natural Forest Business Permit (PBPH) issued in 2021 covering 14,605 hectares, with 82.26 hectares burnt.
Next is PT Diva Perdana Pesona in East Kutai, which holds a Plantation Forest Business Permit (PBPH) issued in 2018 covering 29,429 hectares, with 48.57 hectares burnt. The third company is PT Inhutani I Tanah Grogot in Paser Regency, with a plantation forest permit issued in 2021, a concession area of 15,336 hectares, and 531 hectares burnt.
Minister Raja Antoni emphasised that these steps are part of law enforcement in handling forest fires in accordance with the orders of President Prabowo Subianto. He stated that the government is not only taking action against the public but is also ensuring that corporations are held accountable for their involvement in forest fires.
“I am officially announcing today, following the orders of President Prabowo Subianto, that we will enforce the law. This law enforcement will not only be sharp towards ordinary citizens but also towards corporations that are obligated to be responsible for the occurrence of forest fires in East Kalimantan,” said Minister Raja Antoni.
In addition to the suspension of licences, the government is also enforcing ecosystem and environmental restoration and opening the possibility of criminal proceedings if violations are found.
Suharyanto requested that local governments strengthen fire management to ensure that areas currently outside the priority provinces do not experience an increase in fires. According to law enforcement reports (Gakkum), approximately 80 per cent of total land fire incidents are strongly suspected to be caused by intentional acts.
He explained that the BNPB uses field data to calculate the actual area burnt. The Maluka peat hydrological area is highly vulnerable to repeated fires during the dry season and flooding during the rainy season, indicating severe damage to thousands of hectares.
To date, the East Kalimantan Regional Police have investigated 47 reports related to suspected forest fires, with 16 individuals having been named as suspects.