Singapore expanded its investigation into haze-creating fires in Indonesia that have blanketed the city-state in smog, requesting information from 10 locally registered companies. The National Environment Agency sent notices seeking documents and details of land concessions in Indonesia owned by the firms, their fire-fighting and blaze prevention measures, and their relationship to other relevant companies, according to a Friday statement.
All 10 Singapore-registered companies are involved in the palm oil or forestry sectors and include Wilmar International Ltd., Golden Agri International Pte Ltd., and First Resources Ltd., the agency said. Singapore, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia have experienced some of the worst pollution since 2015 as a result of haze generated by blazes in Indonesia.
Wilmar, the world’s biggest palm oil refiner, said in a statement that “work is in progress to comply,” with the NEA notice. First Resources is “reviewing the notice and will provide the requested documents and information,” it said Saturday. Golden Agri, which operates oil palm assets across Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has pledged to investigate companies behind the region-wide smog and to take legal action under the Transboundary Haze Act. The law gives Singapore the ability to fine companies up to S$100,000 ($78,000) per day of pollution. Air quality in Singapore worsened Saturday, with the city-state’s preferred gauge — the 24-hour PSI — ranging from 118 to 148 as of 10 a.m. local time, levels considered to be “unhealthy.”
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing