InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The Government of Indonesia announced to get Rp 4,8 trillion fine for palm oil companies that operate in forest regions.
As quoted from Voice of America, Deputy in Maritime Coordination in duty, Ministry of Maritime and Investment, Firman Hidayat said that the numbers of fine are running but he did not deliver detail or identify the companies that have to pay the fine.
Last month, the government identify about 200.000 hectares palm oil plantations in forest regions. The areas would be returned to the country to be turned as forest again. This was the response to the companies for breaking the laws for operating in forest regions.
In 2020, the government published a regulation about legal plantations that should not operate in forest regions. This is about to improve palm oil plantation governance which has become environmental issues.
Many officials told that this (fine) is a must because some companies operate (in forest regions) for years, cause damages in forests that should be protected. According to the available regulations, the companies that get sanctions should deliver their documents and pay fine to get cultivation rights on their plantations which the deadline was on 2 November 2023.
Though of the total 17 million hectares palm oil plantations in Indonesia, about 3,3 million hectares were operating in forest regions but 1,67 million hectares were successfully identified and should pay the sanction. (T2)
