KLH Legal Process Of PT SSM Related To Land Fires In Banjar, South Kalimantan

The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has taken legal action against alleged violations of PT SSM's environment in Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan (Kalsel) related to land fires in the area.

"Land fires cannot be tolerated," said Deputy for Law Enforcement (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Environment Control Agency (BPLH), Rizal Irawan, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, August 9.

Every company whose land is burned, said Rizal, must be responsible, both legally and morally to ensure prevention and control.

"We will process these findings in accordance with applicable laws and regulations," he said.

He said the field supervision was carried out by the Deputy Team for Environmental Law Enforcement together with Environmental Supervisory Officers (PPLH), the South Kalimantan Provincial Environment Service, and the Banjar Regency Environmental Service on August 4-7, 2025.

From the results of direct inspection and analysis of the Sentinel-2 satellite image on July 28 and August 2, 2025, the total identification of the burned land area was 1,514.9 hectares (ha) spread over three locations.

In detail, the burned land is Estate 2 with an area of 161.76 ha which is divided into 129.14 ha in the Right to Use Business (HGU) and 32.62 ha outside the HGU in the Plantation Business License (IUP) and in the Estate 3.1 area of 798.13 ha which is divided into 709.05 ha inside the HGU and 89.08 ha outside the HGU in the IUP.

The last burned land was at the Estate 3.2 with an area of 555 ha which was divided by 147.05 ha inside the HGU and 407.96 ha outside the HGU in the IUP.

PT SSM is an oil palm plantation company that also plans the construction of a processing plant. The company has an IUP covering an area of 19,080.14 hectares and an HGU covering an area of 7,743.55 hectares, and has Amdal documents, UKL-UPL, and environmental approval in accordance with statutory provisions.

KLH's Director of Environmental Complaints and Supervision, Ardyanto Nugroho, said that as a first step, the PPLH Team had installed signs and barrier lines in the burned area, one of which was at Estate 3.1.

"The impact of this land fire is very broad, not only on environmental damage, but also on public health and the regional economy. We are committed to taking firm action against the perpetrators and ensuring that recovery steps are carried out as soon as possible," he explained.