Jakarta – Indonesian authorities have temporarily suspended operations at three companies – a mining firm,a palm oil producer,adn a hydroelectric power plant developer – following inspections linked to recent flooding and landslide risks. Minister of Habitat and Forestry Hanif Faisol Nurofiq ordered the halt to operations at PT Agincourt Resources, PT Perkebunan Nusantara III (PTPN III), and PT North Sumatera Hydro energy (NSHE) as the goverment investigates potential environmental impacts and compliance with regulations [[1]]. The move, announced Saturday, underscores a tightening of environmental enforcement amid increasing concerns over disaster prevention and sustainable growth in vulnerable watersheds.
Jakarta –
Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, has temporarily halted operations at three companies operating near the Batang Toru and Garoga River watersheds. The move comes as authorities investigate potential links between business activity and recent flooding and landslide risks in the region.
The suspension follows both aerial and ground inspections conducted by Nurofiq to verify the causes of recent disasters and assess the environmental impact of ongoing operations. The inspections focused on ensuring compliance with environmental protection standards.
Companies subject to the temporary shutdown include PT Agincourt Resources, a mining operation; PT Perkebunan Nusantara III (PTPN III), a state-owned palm oil producer; and PT North Sumatera Hydro Energy (NSHE), the developer of the Batang Toru hydroelectric power plant.
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The government’s decision to temporarily halt operations requires all three companies to undergo environmental audits as a means of controlling ecological pressures in the vital upstream areas of the watersheds. This action underscores the government’s commitment to addressing environmental concerns linked to disaster risk.
“Starting December 6, 2025, all companies operating upstream in the Batang Toru watershed must suspend operations and undergo an environmental audit,” Nurofiq stated in an official release Saturday. “We have summoned the three companies for a formal review on December 8, 2025, in Jakarta.”
Nurofiq emphasized the need for a comprehensive evaluation of all business activities in the area, particularly given the current extreme rainfall – exceeding 300 mm per day.
“Environmental recovery must be viewed as a holistic landscape approach,” he said. “We will assess the damage, evaluate legal aspects, and do not rule out criminal proceedings if violations are found to have exacerbated the disaster.”
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) will tighten verification processes for environmental permits and spatial planning compliance for all activities on steep slopes, upstream watersheds, and river channels. Authorities will pursue legal action against any violations that increase disaster risk.
“We will not hesitate to take firm action against any violations. Environmental law enforcement is a key instrument for protecting communities from preventable disasters,” Nurofiq asserted.
Rizal Irawan, Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement at KLH/BPLH, added that aerial surveillance revealed widespread land clearing contributing to increased pressure on the watersheds, leading to significant sediment and erosion.
“The helicopter overview clearly showed land clearing activities for the hydroelectric plant, industrial timber plantations, mining, and palm oil plantations. This pressure is triggering large amounts of wood debris and erosion. We will continue to expand surveillance to Batang Toru, Garoga, and other watersheds in North Sumatra,” Irawan explained.
KLH/BPLH assured the public that field verification will continue for other companies suspected of significantly contributing to environmental pressures in Sumatra. The government is committed to establishing environmental law enforcement as a cornerstone in preventing ecological disasters and protecting communities.
(igo/eds)
