Blog: Press Releases GAR/PT SMART involves stakeholders in preventive measures for annual dry season 2020

Pontianak, 9 July, 2020 – In an effort to raise awareness and increased preparedness to face the dry season,  one of GAR’s palm oil business units operating in Ketapang and Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, held a forest and land fire muster on 24 June, 2020.

This year, we face two major challenges. In the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak has had a tremendous impact on our lives both at home and abroad. Although Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) in Indonesia has predicted that dry weather in 2020 will not be as bad as 2019, the threat of forest and land fires still persists and we need to stay alert.

“In accordance with President Jokowi’s directive, we are more than ready to help and work alongside the government in order to prevent the occurrence of forest and land fires. We have strengthened education for the public and internal company employees about how to prevent these fires, and also conducted cross-sectoral cooperation with Manggala Agni, BRG, Police, especially in West Kalimantan,” said Susanto Yang, CEO of Sinar Mas Plantation for West Kalimantan.

Internally, GAR has carried out a range of mitigation efforts so that forest and land fire would not occur within the company’s concession. Firstly, we are giving education and socialisation to all employees regarding the dangers and prevention of forest and land fires. Secondly, we have alerted to Emergency Preparedness and Response (KTD) team as the company’s frontline defence. Lastly, we’re fixing the infrastructure and utilising early warning systems, such as technologies based on satellite image sensors to monitor and detect fire hotspots. In addition to those three measures, we have also built dams, drainage systems, or canal blocks to keep the peatlands within the company’s concession wet.

PT SMART understands that in order to face the threat of forest and land fire, multi-stakeholder cooperation and embracing third-party are two important keys. We carry out regular training with Manggala Agni to increase the awareness of our KTD team and Masyarakat Siaga Api (MSA). In addition, our company regularly conducts forest and land fire prevention education for elementary and middle school students around our operational areas. Some of our education activities are carried out together with Dinas Pendidikan as well as collaborating with Badan Restorasi Gambut (BRG).

“Aside from preparation, it is also important to have good implementation. Specifically, tactical detection in the field. We have to ensure that our team is patrolling the field and conducts monitoring, so that we can detect hotspots early.  Though we have already have an early detection system, we still need to check and do follow-ups as quickly as possible. Therefore, it is important to be able to patrol with various party in an integrated manner. We encourage all levels of society to take part in this effort,” said Anselmus Achmad Supriyanto, Head of Fire Prevention and Response, PT SMART.

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About Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food

In Indonesia, all Golden Agri-Resources’ (GAR’s) palm oil related businesses operate under the Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food brand. Outside of Indonesia, the majority of GAR-owned entities operate under the GAR brand. When talking about GAR’s total business interests in Indonesia, Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food is used.

Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food operates with a total planting area in Indonesia reaching more than 495,247 hectares (including plasma smallholders) as at 30 September 2019, located in Indonesia. It has integrated operations focused on the production of palm-based edible oil and fat. Focus on sustainable palm oil production, its primary activities in Indonesia include cultivating and harvesting of oil palm trees; processing of fresh fruit bunch into crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel; refining CPO into value-added products such as cooking oil, margarine, shortening, biodiesel and oleo-chemicals; as well as merchandising palm products throughout the world. It also has operations in China and India including a deep-sea port, oilseeds crushing plant, production capabilities for refined edible oil products as well as other food products such as noodles.

Founded in 1996, GAR was listed on the Singapore Exchange in 1999 and has a market capitalisation of US$2.1 billion as at 30 September 2019. Flambo International Limited, an investment company, is currently GAR’s largest shareholder, with a 50.35 percent stake. GAR has several subsidiaries, including PT SMART Tbk which was listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 1992. GAR is focused on responsible palm oil production.

For more information about Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, visit www.smart-tbk.com

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