East Kalimantan Karhutla Threatens IKN Areas, Three Companies Threatened by Sanctions

EAST KALIMANTAN (KALTIM, GARISBUMI.com – The Ministry of Forestry is strengthening the handling of forest and land fires or forest and land fires in East Kalimantan (Kaltim), especially around the Archipelago Capital (IKN) area.

The integrated operation involves the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), TNI, Polri, IKN Authority, local government, business world and the community. All elements were deployed to prevent the fire from approaching the core zone of the IKN government.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said this step was carried out in accordance with President Prabowo Subianto's direction.

"As ordered by Mr. President Prabowo Subianto, all of us, TNI, Polri, BNPB, Ministry of Forestry, OIKN, and the community, work together to ensure that fire does not enter the IKN core zone," said Raja Juli when reviewing the handling of forest and land fires in the IKN area, East Kalimantan (Kaltim), Monday, September 14 2026.

Water Bombing and Weather Modification Prepared

Handling of forest and land fires is carried out through ground and air extinguishing operations. Water bombing aircraft were deployed to reach fire spots that were difficult for ground teams to handle.

The Ministry of Forestry is also coordinating with BNPB and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) to prepare weather modification operations.

In the field, Manggala Agni together with the Forest Management Unit (KPH), TNI, Polri, IKN Authority, people who care about fire, and other elements continue to carry out extinguishing and patrolling. Patrols have been increased to prevent the emergence of new Hotspots.

Prevention efforts are also directed at implementing land clearing without burning. This step is considered important so that forest and land fires do not continue to recur.

Three Companies Threatened with Forest and Land Fire Sanctions

Apart from extinguishing the fire, the Ministry of Forestry is following up on the discovery of fires in the concession areas of three companies holding Forest Utilization Business Permits (PBPH) in East Kalimantan (Kaltim).

One company has been subject to a written warning and forced reinstatement. Meanwhile, two other companies are currently undergoing the process of imposing sanctions in the form of suspension.

The three companies are:

• PT Puji Perfect Raharja in Berau Regency. This company holds PBPH Natural Forest covering an area of ​​14,605 ​​hectares. The burned area was recorded at 82.26 hectares.

• PT Diva Perdana Pesona in East Kutai Regency. The company holding the PBPH Plantation Forest covering an area of ​​29,429 hectares has a burned area of ​​48.57 hectares.

• PT Inhutani I Tanah Grogot in Paser Regency. Of the PBPH Plantation Forest permit area of ​​15,336 hectares, around 531 hectares were reported burned.

"Law enforcement is not only directed towards ordinary people, but also towards corporations which must be responsible for the occurrence of forest and land fires in East Kalimantan (Kaltim)," stressed Raja Juli.

Protect IKN Forests and Strategic Areas

The government ensures that handling forest and land fires in East Kalimantan (Kaltim) does not stop with blackouts. Prevention, law enforcement and ecosystem restoration are also important parts of the operation.

Cross-sector coordination continues to be strengthened to ensure that personnel, equipment and operational support needs can be met.

Through this integrated operation, the government hopes that forest and land fires can be controlled while protecting forest areas and IKN strategic zones from the threat of fire. (*)

Source: Ministry of Forestry Press Release