The statement, made in a regulatory filing, responds to a Straits Times report citing a recent Greenpeace investigation. The investigation named First Resources and Bumitama Agri as entities with concession areas registering haze source points in West Kalimantan. First Resources attributed the elevated fire risk in the region to a “severe” El Nino-induced drought, which the company said caused small-scale traditional land clearing by local communities to escalate into uncontrolled wildfires.
In its filing, the company clarified that satellite identification of hotspots does not establish a company’s responsibility or prove the deliberate use of fire. “The presence of hotspots within a concession should not, in itself, be interpreted as an indication that the concession holder caused, initiated or condoned a fire,” First Resources said. A concession is land granted to a company for use or development, with the holder responsible for management.
The company noted that its internal investigations showed many hotspots were located outside its operating boundaries. However, it acknowledged that some “massive and fast-spreading” fires originating externally had encroached onto its managed areas despite the efforts of on-site firefighting teams. First Resources defended its land management practices by citing its “strict Zero Burning Policy” and an “Integrated Fire Management” initiative that includes daily satellite tracking and drone surveillance.
The company also reported distributing 17 water pump units to affected villages and thousands of masks to local education offices. These measures are part of its response to the fire situation in West Kalimantan.
The transboundary haze remains a significant issue in South-east Asia. Residents in West Kalimantan have launched a class-action lawsuit against the Indonesian government, alleging negligence over recurring fires. In response to the current haze conditions, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated on Thursday that the government is investigating which companies may be responsible for haze-causing fires. He added that Singapore would take action under its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act where warranted and would explore joint action with other countries.
