BPK Finds Sawit Gardens Covering An Area Of 2.5 Million Ha Without Permit In 2023

JAKARTA - The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) found that oil palm plantation business actors were operating in a forest area of about 2.5 million hectares without permits. This is according to the financial report (LK) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (LHK) in 2023.

"We found that there are palm oil plantation business actors operating in forest areas covering an area of about 2,502,655.69 hectares without permits in the forestry sector," said Member IV of BPK Haerul Saleh quoting Antara.

This problem causes the state to lose potential income from administrative fines and Forest Resources Income (PSDH) or Reforestation Funds (DR).

In addition, Haerul also assessed that the implementation of the land exchange agreement for State Property (BMN) between the Ministry of Environment and PT Pertamina (Persero) in Tuban, East Java, was not adequate.

"The agreement has not included a clause on the assessment of substitute goods, thus raising doubts about the reasonable value of fixed assets as a substitute," he said.

His party hopes that there will be an increase in cooperation and synergy with the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, including the use of reports on the results of the Inspectorate's supervision used by the BPK as supporting information in the implementation of the examination.

This examination of LK is carried out based on Law (UU) Number 15 of 2004 concerning Examination of State Financial Management and Responsibility and Law Number 15 of 2006 concerning the Supreme Audit Agency.

Based on the results of the examination carried out, the BPK provided an Unqualified Opinion (WTP) on the LK of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the 2023 Overseas Grant/Ministry Financial Report.