Indonesia cancels licences of five companies over forest, land fires

INDONESIA has cancelled the business licences of five companies holding a combined 92,464 hectares of concessions in Kalimantan as part of enforcement action over forest and land fires, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said.

The companies are PT Wana Lestari Jaya, operating in Sanggau and Sekadau in West Kalimantan; PT Prima Multi Buana in Banjar, South Kalimantan; PT Pancaran Wana Nusa in Lamandau, Central Kalimantan; PT Grace Putri Perdana in Lamandau, Sukamara and Ketapang; and PT Babugus Wahana Lestari in Kapuas, Central Kalimantan.

Raja Juli said the move was part of President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to enforce the law without discrimination, including against large entities.

“This is part of President Prabowo Subianto’s directive for law enforcement without discrimination, action that is not only directed at small players, but is also firm against large entities,” Raja Juli said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The five companies hold concessions ranging from 3,812 hectares for PT Pancaran Wana Nusa to 29,140 hectares for PT Wana Lestari Jaya.

The areas affected by fires within their respective concessions were recorded at 47.84 hectares for PT Wana Lestari Jaya, 18.20 hectares for PT Prima Multi Buana, 497 hectares for PT Pancaran Wana Nusa, 374.99 hectares for PT Grace Putri Perdana and 231.10 hectares for PT Babugus Wahana Lestari.

The combined area affected by fires was 1,169.13 hectares.

Raja Juli said the licence cancellations followed violations by the companies.

He stressed that concession holders, including holders of Forest Utilisation Business Licences (PBPH), were responsible for protecting their concession areas and fulfilling their obligations. - September 23, 2026