South Sumatra land fires trigger Ministry of Environment investigation

The Indonesian Ministry of Environment (KLH) has identified land fires within and around the concessions of PT Bintang Harapan Palma in Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra. Field inspections conducted between August 11 and 15, 2026, revealed two fire locations that impacted approximately 457.85 hectares.

One site affected 2.08 hectares of community land and 1.77 hectares of the company's concession, while a second site adjacent to PT Bumi Mekar Hijau's territory covered roughly 454 hectares. Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement, Rizal Irawan, stated that authorities are reviewing all facts to determine if legal action, including administrative, criminal, or civil sanctions, is warranted.

This follows a 2023 incident where the company faced administrative sanctions and a civil lawsuit. In that previous case, the government sought Rp677 billion in damages due to ecosystem destruction and smoke hazards caused by peatland fires.