Minamas applies zero burning policy

Field implementation in Minamas Plantation. (photo ist)

The results are very positive, with the number of fires outside the immediate adjacent plantations and around the concession area reaching zero,

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (AntaranewsKalsel) - Minamas Plantation is partnering with a number of universities to run land and forest fire prevention programs. Together with its subsidiary since 1985 they committed for an environmentally friendly plantation practices by applying "zero burning" policy.

The Minamas Plantation's Operation Controls for Sebamban, South Kalimantan, Khairul Nizam Idris here said the company through its commitment make serious efforts to tackle fires through the construction of 72 fire towers spread across its business units in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

"The average height of the fire tower is 15 meters along with installing fire index or bulletin boards around the operation to ensure all employees are always alert to the risk of fire," he said during an iftar event in Banjarmasin.

Each plantation in all business units is equipped with fire extinguishers required by the government through the Work Unit for Development Monitoring and Control (UKP4).

According to Nizam, Minamas is working with the local government to provide training to surrounding communities through the Community for Fire Care (MPA) and currently has 10 MPAs facilitated and trained by the company.

The Company continues to monitor the situation taking place across business units through the Plantation Location Intelligent Universal Management (Platinum) system using satellite data at hot spots on the concession area map to quickly detect.

Minamas has also implemented a village-based fire prevention program in collaboration with a team of Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) of Riau University, Lambung Mangkurat University, and Jambi University.

"The results are very positive, with the number of fires outside the immediate adjacent plantations and around the concession area reaching zero," he said.

Until 2017 as many as 19 Desa Mandiri Cegah Api (Self-Help Village to Prevent Fire) have been established under the three universities program. The extension of the program continues and now the cooperation is done with Sriwijaya University with five villages that need assistant.