Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), through the Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement (Gakkum), has taken firm action in response to the escalating forest and land fires in Riau Province.
Based on monitoring results from January to July 2025, the KLH/BPLH Law Enforcement Team detected multiple hotspots within the concession areas of six companies, which led to the sealing and suspension of operations.
“Every permit holder is obliged to ensure that their land does not burn. There is no excuse for negligence, as mitigation is a mandatory responsibility attached to every concession. We will ensure that anyone found negligent or deliberately setting fires will face strict and transparent legal action,” said Irjen Pol. Rizal Irawan, Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement, in an official statement on Friday (25/07/2025).
The four sealed companies, holding palm oil plantation and Forest Utilization Business Licensing (PBPH) permits, are:
PT Adei Crumb Rubber – 5 hotspots detected with moderate confidence
PT Multi Gambut Industri – 5 hotspots detected with moderate confidence
PT Tunggal Mitra Plantation – 2 hotspots detected with moderate confidence
PT Sumatera Riang Lestari – 13 hotspots detected with moderate confidence
Meanwhile, PT Jatim Jaya Perkasa, which operates a palm oil processing plant, was also found to have one hotspot with high confidence.
Field verification revealed that the plant’s chimney was emitting pollutants, causing air pollution in the surrounding area of Rokan Hilir Regency.
The KLH/BPLH enforcement team has suspended all operations of the plant as an environmental protection measure.
Of the six monitored companies, four plantation and PBPH concession sites will face administrative sanctions and sealing orders, while one palm oil plant will be subject to administrative sanctions and a full operational shutdown.
“We will not tolerate land fires caused by corporations. Legal enforcement will be applied firmly to ensure companies do not neglect their responsibilities in preventing land fires,” concluded Ardyanto Nugroho, Director of Complaints and Monitoring at the Ministry of Environment. (*)
