"We will be conducting the environmental audits on nearly 100 business units in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh," said the Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Nurofiq emphasized that the audit process could take up to a year. However, the audit will focus first on companies deemed to have had a significant impact.
"The important thing is that we will request completion of the major ones by March," he said.
According to the minister, the audit will determine measurable sanctions for business units involved in the natural disaster.
"Whether it's a criminal approach, a civil lawsuit, or administrative sanctions imposed by the government. So, the Environment Ministry will pursue three multi-dose sanctions," he said.
Nurofiq also revealed that his office has conducted an audit in the Batang Toru River Basin (DAS) area in North Sumatra over the past two weeks.
“There are 8-9 business units currently under investigation by the Environment Ministry in the Batang Toru River Basin. We have imposed administrative sanctions on all of them, forcing them to cease operations and undergo environmental audits,” he said.
In West Sumatra, he continued, field verification has been conducted on 17 business entities out of approximately 50 entities.
"There are cement factories, mining, housing, and palm oil plantations. We are currently conducting field verification on 17 out of approximately 50," Nurofiq said.
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Translator: Sean Filo Muhamad, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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