Causing Air Pollution, DLH Bengkulu Reprimands Hong Ming Industry Briquette Manufacturing Company

The activity of making briquettes at the PT Hong Ming Industry Indonesia facility in Bengkulu City. (ANTARA/Anggi Mayasari)

BENGKULU - The Bengkulu City Environmental Service (DLH) has issued a warning to PT Hong Ming Industry Indonesia, a briquette manufacturing company whose activities are suspected of causing air pollution.

"We have conveyed a warning to the company regarding air pollution and we are waiting for the process, a maximum of two weeks, and we are providing guidance," said Head of Bengkulu City DLH Riduan in Bengkulu, Antara, Tuesday, December 12.

He said the company was given two weeks to one month to carry out inspections and repairs regarding reports of suspected air pollution resulting from the company's activities.

According to him, Bengkulu City DLH has also written to the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry to send a team to investigate violations allegedly committed by the company.

Riduan said that Bengkulu City DLH had twice inspected the company's operational locations and found air pollution as complained by the public.

According to him, the company is suspected of violating Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Number 5 of 2021 concerning Procedures for Issuing Technical Approvals and Operational Feasibility Letters in the Field of Environmental Pollution Control.

Meanwhile, PT Hong Ming Industry Indonesia (HMII) Legal Counsel Anatasia Pase said that the company had not received a warning letter from DLH Bengkulu City.

"Until now, we have not received a warning letter from the Bengkulu City DLH. Because, in the law there is a term for guidance, then a warning, and finally a recommendation for dismissal if the company still violates it," he said.

However, he confirmed that the Bengkulu City DLH team had visited PT HMII twice to carry out verification regarding environmental pollution reports.