SINGAPORE – Singapore has issued Preventive Measure Notices to seven Indonesian companies whose land concessions are suspected of being linked to forest and land fires (karhutla) that could contribute to transboundary haze. The companies have been instructed to extinguish fires, stop burning activities, and submit plans to prevent further outbreaks.

Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, announced the measures on Friday, October 16, 2026. According to Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA), monitoring data indicated that smoke from fires in the companies’ concession areas could be moving towards Singapore.

The seven companies receiving the notices are PT Bumi Andalas Permai, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Paramitra Mulia Langgeng, PT Sumatra Alam Anugerah, PT SBA Wood Industries, PT Hutan Lestari Raya, and PT Bangkanesia.

The companies operate in the forestry and industrial timber plantation sectors, primarily in South Sumatra and the Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia.

NEA Orders Companies to Extinguish Fires and Prevent Further Burning

Singapore’s NEA uses multiple sources to monitor forest and land fires in Indonesia, including hotspot maps, meteorological data, and satellite imagery. The findings formed the basis for issuing preventive notices to companies whose concession areas were indicated as potentially linked to the fires.

Under the notices, the companies must deploy firefighting personnel to extinguish existing fires and prevent them from spreading. They must also stop burning activities and refrain from starting new fires on land they own or control.

In addition, each company must submit an action plan to the NEA detailing its firefighting measures and strategies to prevent recurring fires.

Grace Fu said investigations into the companies would continue. The NEA may issue additional notices if monitoring identifies other companies potentially linked to fires contributing to transboundary air pollution.

Singapore may also consider further enforcement measures, including fines or legal proceedings, where warranted under applicable laws.

Singapore PM Lawrence Wong Calls for Accountability

A day before the NEA announcement, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called for companies suspected of contributing to Indonesia’s forest fires and transboundary haze to be investigated and held accountable if evidence establishes their responsibility.

In a social media statement on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Wong said the Singapore government was working to identify companies that might be responsible for the fires.

Singapore is also considering possible action under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, which provides a legal framework for addressing haze pollution originating beyond the country’s borders.

Wong acknowledged that Singapore cannot control weather conditions, wind direction, or activities taking place outside its territory. Nevertheless, he said the government would continue protecting public health and working with neighbouring countries to address the underlying causes of transboundary haze.

The issue remains significant for Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where smoke from land and forest fires can affect air quality, public health, and regional economic activity.

Three Companies Reportedly Linked to Asia Pulp & Paper

Media reports cited in the available reporting identify three of the companies receiving notices—PT Bumi Andalas Permai, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, and PT SBA Wood Industries—as suppliers to Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), part of the Sinar Mas Group.

PT Bumi Andalas Permai reportedly manages an industrial timber plantation concession in Ogan Komering Ilir Regency, South Sumatra, covering approximately 190,000 hectares. PT Bumi Mekar Hijau is reported to hold a concession in the same regency spanning around 250,000 hectares.

PT Bumi Mekar Hijau was previously the subject of a lawsuit filed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2015 concerning allegations that it deliberately caused fires on peatland. That historical case must be distinguished from Singapore’s current investigation in 2026 and does not establish responsibility for the fires now under scrutiny.

PT SBA Wood Industries operates timber plantation activities in Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra.

Another company on Singapore’s list, PT Paramitra Mulia Langgeng, reportedly holds an industrial timber plantation concession in South Sumatra. In 2025, the company was reported to have been implicated in a corruption and bribery case related to forestry management permits in Lampung.

PT Sumatra Alam Anugerah reportedly manages an industrial timber plantation in Muara Enim Regency, South Sumatra. PT Hutan Lestari Raya and PT Bangkanesia are reported to hold industrial timber plantation permits in the Bangka Belitung Islands.

However, previous legal cases and reported business relationships do not, by themselves, prove that any of these companies caused or contributed to the fires currently being investigated by Singapore.

Singapore-Listed Kencana Agri Also Faces Scrutiny

The scrutiny surrounding Indonesia’s forest fires has also extended to companies listed on the Singapore Exchange.

One company mentioned in media reports is Kencana Agri, a palm oil producer with subsidiaries operating in Indonesia.

According to The Straits Times report cited in the available material, Kencana Agri disclosed that fires had affected approximately 62 hectares of land within concession areas managed by its subsidiaries in North Kalimantan and East Kalimantan.

The company said the fires had spread from surrounding land and did not originate from its own operations. The statement was made in response to questions from Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) regarding forest and peatland fires contributing to haze in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The case highlights the importance of establishing the source and cause of each fire before determining legal responsibility. The presence of hotspots within a concession area does not automatically establish that the concession holder deliberately started the fires.

Singapore Offers Indonesia Assistance in Fighting Forest Fires

Alongside its investigation and enforcement measures, Singapore has offered assistance to Indonesia in tackling forest and land fires.

Grace Fu said Singapore had been communicating with the Indonesian government over the preceding months, including discussions about potential firefighting support.

On Friday, October 16, 2026, Grace contacted Indonesia’s Environment Minister, Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat, to offer civilian assistance for firefighting operations.

The proposed support includes the possibility of weather modification, or cloud seeding, if considered appropriate for Indonesia’s needs and prevailing conditions.

Singapore said it recognised the challenges Indonesia faces in responding to forest and land fires. However, it stressed that effective prevention, rapid firefighting responses, and enforcement against parties proven responsible were necessary to reduce the risk of recurring transboundary haze.

The preventive notices issued to the seven Indonesian companies represent an initial regulatory measure based on NEA monitoring indicators. They do not constitute a final determination of legal liability. Further investigation and evidence will be required to establish whether individual companies were responsible for the fires.