NEA Serves Haze Notices on 20 Companies Over Indonesian Fires

Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) has served notices on 20 companies, including ten Singapore-registered firms, over fires in Indonesia that may have contributed to haze in Singapore.

Ten Indonesian firms ordered to fight fires

NEA sent Preventive Measure Notices (PMNs) under Section 9 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) to seven Indonesian companies on 16 October over fires in Sumatra. It sent PMNs to three more on 19 October over fires in Kalimantan.

The notices require the ten companies to deploy firefighters to put out or contain fires on their land, stop any burning, and submit plans to extinguish the fires or prevent them from spreading or recurring.

The ten companies are PT Bumi Andalas Permai, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT SBA Wood Industries, PT Paramitra Mulia Langgeng, PT Sumatera Alam Anugerah, PT Hutan Lestari Raya, PT Bangkanesia, PT Buana Megatama Jaya, PT Mananjung Hayak and PT Baratama Putra Perkasa.

NEA is also asking them for documents on fires in their concessions, the measures they took to put out those fires, and their links with associated companies in Indonesia and Singapore.

Singapore-registered companies asked for details

Separately, NEA issued notices under Section 10 of the THPA to ten Singapore-registered palm oil and forestry companies. These firms own land concessions in Indonesia, either directly or through related companies. They are Asia Pulp & Paper Company Limited, Asia Pulp & Paper Company (China) Limited, Bumitama Agri, Golden Agri International, First Resources, Indofood Agri Resources, Kencana Agri, TSH Global Plantation, TSH Oversea and Wilmar International.

They must disclose their corporate linkages, where their concessions are, and their fire prevention and firefighting efforts this dry season.

NEA said it is “firmly committed to identifying and holding accountable all local or foreign companies that have caused or contributed to the transboundary haze in Singapore.”

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