Indonesia Minister warns HGU holders of land fire penalties

Nusron Wahid, the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), has warned that businesses using fire for land clearing may face the cancellation of their Land Cultivation Rights (HGU).

During a coordination meeting in Jakarta regarding the prevention of forest and land fires for 2026, the Minister explained that the cancellation process follows Ministerial Regulation No. 15 of 2016. The process involves identification, inventory, field verification, assessment, and notification.

The scale of the penalty depends on the extent of the fire. If the burned area is less than 50% of the total HGU area, only the specific location of the fire will be revoked. However, if the fire exceeds 50% of the total area, the entire HGU may be cancelled.

In addition to potential revocation, HGU holders are required to provide fire control infrastructure, water sources, and water management systems, as well as engage in prevention and post-fire handling.