KLH Files Lawsuit against 6 Companies for Rp4.8 Trillion related to North Sumatra Floods

Deputy Head of the KLH/BPLH Gakkum Rizal Irawan (center) at a press conference regarding the enforcement of the Sumatra flood law in Jakarta, Thursday afternoon (15/1/2026) ANTARA/Prisca Triferna

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has filed a civil lawsuit worth Rp4.8 trillion against six companies in North Sumatra who are suspected of contributing to environmental damage and being a factor in the Sumatra flood.

The Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement (Gakkum) of the KLH/Environmental Control Agency (BPLH) Rizal Irawan said that his party had sued PT NSHE, PT AR, PT TPL, PT PN, PT MST and PT TBS, which carried out activities in the Garoga River Basin (DAS) and the Batang Toru River Basin (DAS) which are all in North Sumatra.

"With a total lawsuit against the 6 companies, the amount is Rp. 4,843,232,560,026. Of the Rp. 4.8 trillion, the environmental loss is Rp. 4,657,378,770,276. Meanwhile, for the restoration of the environment, it is Rp. 178,481,212,250," explained Rizal as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, January 15.

He ensured that all lawsuits had been filed today. With two lawsuits submitted to the Medan City District Court (PN), two lawsuits in the South Jakarta District Court and one lawsuit in the Central Jakarta District Court.

"So this is strict liability. So with this lawsuit, it is hoped that it can restore the environment and ecosystems that exist as well as restore people's rights to a good and healthy environment," he said.

Previously, after floods and landslides in Sumatra which caused more than 1,000 people to die at the end of 2025, the KLH/BPLH had sealed a number of companies in the three affected provinces, namely Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. The sealing was carried out due to the alleged contribution of the company's activities which were a factor in the floods and landslides.

In addition, in December 2025, the KLH summoned eight corporations operating in North Sumatra.

According to KLH data as of December 15, 2025, eight companies were called to provide explanations, namely PT Agincourt Resources, PT Toba Pulp Lestari, Sarulla Operations Ltd, PT Sumatera Pembangkit Mandiri, PT Teluk Nauli, PT North Sumatera Hydro Energy, PT Multi Sibolga Timber, and PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV Kebun Batang Toru.