Government action covers more than 42,000 hectares as three additional companies remain under review.
Indonesia plans to revoke or deny land-use rights affecting more than 42,000 hectares held by eight companies allegedly linked to forest fires, while three additional companies remain under government review.
Eight Companies Face Land Rights Action
Indonesia will revoke, partially revoke, or withhold land-use rights affecting more than 42,000 hectares across eight companies allegedly involved in forest fires. Agrarian Affairs Minister Nusron Wahid said three additional companies, with concessions totaling more than 11,000 hectares, remain under review. The government did not disclose the types of plantations operated by the affected companies.
Three Firms Could Lose Entire Concessions
Three companies will have their cultivation rights, known as Hak Guna Usaha (HGU), fully revoked after more than half of their concession areas were burned amid repeated fire outbreaks and inadequate prevention measures, according to Agrarian Affairs Minister Nusron Wahid. Another company will face partial revocation, while a fifth will be denied renewal of its expired HGU.
Three More Companies Denied New Rights
Nusron said three additional companies holding plantation business permits would not be granted HGU following fires on their concessions. The measures differ according to the companies’ existing land-rights status, meaning not all eight face the cancellation of previously granted HGU. The administrative measures do not, by themselves, establish criminal liability for causing the fires.
Foreign Investment Links Draw Regional Attention
Nusron said beneficial ownership information showed that some of the 11 companies facing action or review had links to investors from South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. He did not identify the companies or provide further details about their foreign investment links. Separately, Singapore summoned representatives of Singapore Exchange-listed companies suspected of having fires on their Indonesian plantations following worsening haze and air pollution.
Fires Drive Major Health and Environmental Toll
Indonesia is experiencing its most intense wildfire season in 11 years, according to Reuters, with extensive areas burned across Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua. Indonesian Health Ministry data showed more than 400,000 cases of acute respiratory infections across seven provinces as of November 2, amid widespread fires and haze.
Indonesia’s decision to target land rights marks a significant administrative response to companies authorities associate with wildfire-affected concessions, although individual responsibility remains subject to the relevant legal and regulatory processes. For Indonesians, enforcement could shape how plantation operators are held accountable for fire prevention. For Singaporeans, the measures have direct regional relevance because some investors are reportedly Singapore-linked and smoke from Indonesian fires has contributed to transboundary haze.
Sources: Asia One (2026) , Reuters (2026)
Keywords: Indonesia Wildfire Crackdown, Land Rights Revocation, Forest Fires Indonesia, HGU Permits, Kalimantan Fires, Transboundary Haze
