SD Guthrie denies allegations of causing Indonesian forest fires

SD Guthrie Bhd, a major palm oil producer, has denied allegations that its subsidiaries or employees were involved in forest and land fires in Indonesia. The company stated that recent field inspections confirmed there are no active fires on any of its Indonesian estates.

The group clarified that some companies mentioned in public reports as affiliates are not owned, managed, or controlled by SD Guthrie. It further noted that the allegations appear to rely on outdated maps that do not accurately reflect current ownership or operational boundaries. The company argued that the age profile of the palms in the disputed areas is inconsistent with claims of deliberate burning for land clearing.

SD Guthrie emphasized its strict zero-burning policy, which has been in place since 1985, alongside commitments to no deforestation, no peat development, and no exploitation. To prevent fires, the company utilizes real-time water level monitoring, peatland moisture management, and community training programs. Its Indonesian subsidiary, Minamas Plantation, maintains 67 firefighting teams consisting of 1,005 trained personnel supported by drone and infrared monitoring.