An Indonesian government task force has ordered dozens of companies in mining and palm oil cultivation to pay fines totalling 38.62 trillion rupiah (US$2.31 billion) for operating illegally in forest areas, reported Reuters.
President Prabowo Subianto’s forestry task force has seized 3.7 million hectares of plantations and more than 5,300 hectares of mining operations, with a target to reach 4 million hectares by the end of the year.
Following the seizures, it has issued fines totalling 9.42 trillion rupiah to 49 plantation companies and 29.2 trillion rupiah for 22 mining companies, said Barita Simanjutak, an official with the Attorney General’s Office and a task force member. He described them as some of the previous owners of the asset, but did not disclose the names of the companies.
Some companies have paid, while others have objected, Simanjuntak said. He noted the task force was open to dialogue, but it would be strict in its enforcement of the law. “It is not impossible for the task force to take legal action if compliance is not heeded,” he added.
Indonesia is the world’s biggest exporter of palm oil, thermal coal, nickel and tin.
Source: Reuters