Key Takeaways
- • Wilmar International, First Resources and Bumitama Agri have confirmed they will cooperate with Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) after receiving notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) over forest and land fires in Indonesia.
- • NEA served notices on 10 Singapore-registered firms on Friday, October 23, marking the first time the agency has taken such action against Singapore-registered companies under the THPA.
- • All 10 companies either own land concessions in Indonesia or have related companies holding such concessions, according to NEA.
- • Wilmar, in which Malaysia's PPB Group Bhd holds a substantial stake, disclosed on the Singapore Exchange that it has begun steps to comply with NEA's document and information requests.
- • TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea are among the 10 companies named, while Malaysia-listed TSH Resources has separately been queried by Singapore Exchange Regulation over Indonesian hotspots.
Summary
Three major plantation companies, Wilmar International, First Resources and Bumitama Agri, have confirmed they will cooperate with Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) following notices issued under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) over forest and land fires in Indonesia. According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the companies have pledged to provide the documents and information requested as Singapore intensifies its investigations into companies with plantation and forestry interests in Indonesia.
NEA served notices on Friday, October 23, to 10 Singapore-registered firms. The agency said all 10 either own land concessions in Indonesia or have related companies that hold such concessions. The action marks the first time NEA has issued such notices to Singapore-registered companies under the THPA. Previously, the agency had issued similar notices only to companies not registered on the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority's BizFile portal.
Wilmar International, which is listed on the Singapore Exchange and has substantial Malaysian exposure through Bursa Malaysia-listed PPB Group Bhd, said in a Singapore Exchange filing on Friday that it had begun taking steps to comply with NEA's request. It will provide further updates if there are material developments. Bumitama Agri confirmed on Saturday that it would comply with NEA's information requests and provide updates if material developments arise.
TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea were also among the 10 companies named by NEA. Separately, Malaysia-listed TSH Resources Bhd has been among the plantation companies queried by Singapore Exchange Regulation over fires and hotspots associated with Indonesian plantation areas.
NEA served notices on Friday, October 23, to 10 Singapore-registered firms. The agency said all 10 either own land concessions in Indonesia or have related companies that hold such concessions. The action marks the first time NEA has issued such notices to Singapore-registered companies under the THPA. Previously, the agency had issued similar notices only to companies not registered on the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority's BizFile portal.
Wilmar International, which is listed on the Singapore Exchange and has substantial Malaysian exposure through Bursa Malaysia-listed PPB Group Bhd, said in a Singapore Exchange filing on Friday that it had begun taking steps to comply with NEA's request. It will provide further updates if there are material developments. Bumitama Agri confirmed on Saturday that it would comply with NEA's information requests and provide updates if material developments arise.
TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea were also among the 10 companies named by NEA. Separately, Malaysia-listed TSH Resources Bhd has been among the plantation companies queried by Singapore Exchange Regulation over fires and hotspots associated with Indonesian plantation areas.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.