Indonesia freezes permits of five forestry firms covering 371,560 hectares in West Kalimantan over fires and haze

Indonesian soldiers, together with members of Manggala Agni, worked tirelessly to extinguish a forest and land fire in the Liang Anggang Protected Forest, Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Wednesday (Sept. 2, 2026). Antara Foto.

YOGYAKARTA, Sept 3 (TokoKata) — Indonesia has frozen the forestry business permits of five companies in West Kalimantan and ordered them to restore forest ecosystems affected by fires, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said on Thursday.

The move was approved by President Prabowo Subianto and includes administrative sanctions as well as mandatory environmental restoration, Raja Juli said after inspecting forest and land fires in Kuala Dua village, Kubu Raya district.

"This afternoon, with the approval of President Prabowo Subianto, we are freezing the business permits while also imposing mandatory environmental restoration," Raja Juli said.

The five companies hold concessions covering a combined 371,560 hectares, he said.

Raja Juli said the companies could also face criminal proceedings if investigators find evidence of violations.

"This is not only an administrative sanction, the freezing of permits and mandatory environmental restoration, but it could also have criminal implications," he said.

He said the action reflected Prabowo's direction that law enforcement should be applied fairly and should not be tougher on ordinary people than on corporations.

"Without strong law enforcement, people will feel free to burn land, whether they are small landholders or corporations," Raja Juli said.

Five companies affected.

The Forestry Ministry identified the companies and affected areas as follows:

• PT Mahkota Rimba Utama, in Ketapang district, with a 74,480-hectare forestry business permit area. About 1,275.87 hectares had been affected by fires.
• PT Hutan Ketapang Industri, in Ketapang, with a 100,150-hectare concession. About 670.76 hectares had burned.
• PT Mayawana Persada Mas, in Ketapang, with a 136,710-hectare concession. About 326.93 hectares had been affected by fires.
• PT Duta Andalan Sukses, in Sanggau district, with a 31,080-hectare concession. About 247.3 hectares had burned.
• PT Wana Lestari Jaya, in Sanggau, with a 29,140-hectare concession. About 47.84 hectares had burned.

The government has stepped up enforcement against forest and land fires as fires spread across several parts of Indonesia during the dry season, raising concerns over air quality, public health and environmental damage.

The permit freeze means the companies face restrictions while authorities pursue ecosystem restoration and assess whether further legal action is warranted.