For subscribers
Indonesia to check pulpwood companies' ability to fight fires before granting new concessions
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
Singapore-based Asia Pulp & Paper's Ogan Komering Ilir mill in Palembang, Indonesia.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
JAKARTA - The Indonesian government will apply strict environmental and fire readiness testing to pulp and paper firms before they will be granted new concessions under a controversial land swop scheme that aims to get the companies off carbon-rich deep peatlands, a senior official said on Thursday (April 5).
The scheme is part of government efforts to curb fires and the haze as well as cut carbon emissions blamed for driving climate change.
