Singapore firms monitor haze situation in Indonesia

Channel NewsAsia 2 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: Singapore companies, especially commodities firms with plantations in Indonesia, are keeping a close watch on the haze situation in Indonesia.

First Resources and Golden Agri-Resources have told Channel NewsAsia they hold a strict no-burn policy and have stepped up fire surveillance and patrols on their lands.

Fire-fighting teams and equipment are also in place to prevent fires from spreading.

In a statement, First Resources said it strictly adheres to a no-burn policy for their land clearing process.

“To prepare for fire emergencies that may be caused by spontaneous combustion or fires on neighbouring lands that get out of control, we do have fire precautionary measures in place,” the statement said. “These include detecting and monitoring hotspots using satellite information, increasing frequency of security patrols during the hot and dry season, and maintaining a fire management team at all plantations.”

The statement also added that since 2013, the company has reinforced their fire management team with more trained firefighters, new fire-fighting equipment, further training and better quality protective gear for their fire-fighting crew.

Meanwhile, Golden Agri-Resources said they, along with their subsidiaries, are against any form of burning -- and are industry leaders in being the first palm oil producer to establish a zero-burning policy in 1997.

“We believe that businesses must act responsibly and a multi-stakeholder collaborative approach is the best way to find solutions for the haze issue,” the company said in a statement. “We are supportive of efforts to mitigate the haze and will work with the relevant stakeholders.

“We have intensified our fire surveillance patrols and are prepared to take prompt action to put out fires to protect our plantations.”

Wilmar, which also has plantations in Indonesia, declined to comment.


- CNA/rw