Singapore to send haze prevention notices to 7 companies in Indonesia responsible for fires
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu says she contacted her Indonesian counterpart again on Friday (Oct 16) to offer civilian assistance.
A firefighter attempts to extinguish a wildfire burning through a peatland forest in Pulang Pisau, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, Sep 5, 2026. (Photo: AP/Regina Safri)
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SINGAPORE: Singapore will send preventive measure notices to seven companies in Indonesia responsible for fires causing the current haze, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Friday (Oct 16).
The notices, which stem from Singapore’s investigations, will be issued by the National Environment Agency (NEA) under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, Ms Fu told a press conference.
The seven companies are:
- PT Bumi Andalas Permai;
- PT Bumi Mekar Hijau;
- PT Paramitra Mulia Langgeng;
- PT Sumatera Alam Anugerah;
- PT SBA Wood Industries;
- PT Hutan Lestari Raya;
- PT Bangkanesia.
The notices will require each company to: deploy firefighting personnel to extinguish or prevent the spread of any fire on land it owns or occupies; stop or not start any burning activities on such land; and to submit to NEA their action plans to extinguish any fires on its land and prevent their recurrence.
Three of these companies – PT Bumi Andalas Permai, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Woods Industries and PT Rimba Hutani Mas – also received legal notices from NEA over the 2015 haze crisis.
Investigations into the three companies are still ongoing, NEA said on Monday.
Ms Fu said the agency will investigate all companies found responsible for causing transboundary haze in Singapore.
NEA will issue notices to more companies and consider other measures under the Act if there are indications that they cause fires resulting in transboundary haze.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and the companies' responses to these notices where warranted," she said.
She said that past cases have given the government a better understanding of the practical challenges of investigating transboundary haze offences. Lessons from those cases will inform how it assess the current haze episodes and any further action under the Act.
In response to a follow-up question from CNA, Ms Fu said that fines or charges are options that are within the "realm of consideration" for next steps, adding that “we will see the effectiveness as we go”.
She declined to comment on cases still ongoing but said the government will learn from them and improve its enforcement process.
“It is not easy. I will be the first to admit, but we must try,” she said. “We must try in order to protect Singaporeans, try whatever that is within our control to bring the best outcome for Singapore, even if it may not be so effective.”
She urged the companies to do the right thing to protect their business and reputation.
COMPANIES LINKED TO FORESTRY AND TIMBER PLANTATIONS
The seven companies are linked to Indonesia’s forestry and timber plantation sector, with operations primarily concentrated in South Sumatra and the Bangka Belitung Islands.
Three of them - PT Bumi Andalas Permai, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau and PT SBA Wood Industries - have been identified as suppliers to Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), part of Indonesia’s Sinar Mas Group.
PT Bumi Andalas Permai operates industrial timber plantations in Ogan Komering Ilir Regency in South Sumatra, with a reported concession area of approximately 190,000 hectares, according to APP’s sustainability dashboard.
PT Bumi Mekar Hijau also operates in the same regency, managing a forestry concession spanning around 250,000 hectares, according to the dashboard. In 2015, Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry filed a lawsuit against the company over allegations that it had deliberately caused fires on peatlands, according to media reports.
PT Paramitra Mulia Langgeng was granted industrial timber plantation concessions in South Sumatra, according to a 2018 forestry certification audit report. In 2025, the company was implicated in a corruption and bribery case involving forest management permits in Lampung, according to Indonesian news outlet Kompas.
Meanwhile, PT Sumatera Alam Anugerah has been involved in industrial timber plantation management in Muara Enim Regency in South Sumatra, according to Indonesian government records.
PT SBA Wood Industries operates timber plantations in Ogan Komering Ilir Regency in South Sumatra, according to APP’s sustainability dashboard.
PT Hutan Lestari Raya and PT Bangkanesia were granted industrial timber plantation licences in the Bangka Belitung Islands province.
ASSISTANCE TO INDONESIA
Ms Fu said the government has been in touch with its Indonesian counterparts over the past few months and had earlier offered support for their firefighting efforts. She also spoke to Indonesia’s Minister for Environment Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat last month.
“We understand that the conditions they are dealing with are tricky, and we stand ready to assist where we can.”
Citing media reports that Indonesia is open to foreign assistance, Ms Fu said she contacted the minister again on Friday to offer civilian assistance for firefighting and other measures, such as cloud seeding.
“I have yet to hear from him, but we are prepared to provide assistance that Indonesia thinks is suitable and will continue to engage them on this,” she added.
Additional reporting by Izzah Aqilah Norman.
