INALUM Bolsters Forest Fire Response in West Kalimantan

JAKARTA - PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Persero) or INALUM continues to strengthen its support for handling forest and land fires (karhutla) that have hit a number of points in Indonesia, including in Mempawah Regency - West Kalimantan, which is the operational area of PT Borneo Alumina Indonesia (BAI), a subsidiary of INALUM and PT Aneka Tambang (Persero) Tbk (ANTAM) which operates a grade alumina refinery (SGAR) smelter and its supporting facilities. Since August 24, 2026, INALUM and BAI together with the local government, BNPB/BPBD, TNI, Polri, fire service personnel, volunteers, and local communities have carried out control and extinguishing at a number of fire points. These efforts continue to be strengthened given that some of the fires occur in peatland which has special characteristics, where the fire can spread and survive below the surface so that it requires continuous monitoring, clearing, and cooling. On Friday, September 4, the President Director of PT Mineral Industri Indonesia (MIND ID) Maroef Sjamsoeddin directly coordinated the deployment of 60 certified firefighters from the MIND ID Group to strengthen the team that had been working in the field. The personnel are a combined personnel from INALUM, ANTAM, PT Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk, PT Timah (Persero) Tbk, PT Freeport Indonesia, and PT Vale Indonesia Tbk. Maroef Sjamsoeddin said that disaster management requires the concern and collaboration of various parties. Therefore, the MIND ID Group is present to help the community and strengthen efforts to control karhutla which has an impact on the environment and social activities of the community. "This step is a form of our concern for the environment and the community. The presence of the MIND ID Group volunteers is part of a joint effort to accelerate the control of hotspots while helping to reduce health risks and disruptions to the activities faced by the community," he said when reviewing the affected areas in Mempawah, Friday, September 4. In addition to personnel support, strengthening of handling at the location is also carried out through the provision of various firefighting equipment and safety equipment as well as medical support for volunteers and affected communities, which also includes the provision of emergency health facilities, personal protective equipment, including one fire truck unit which was also added by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) (PELINDO), in order to ensure that the health and safety needs of all volunteers and communities at the location can be met. INALUM President Director, Melati Sarnita, emphasized that the company's involvement in handling the forest fire was part of the company's social and environmental responsibility as well as a form of concern for the local community. The team's presence in the field is not only directed at the extinguishing process, but also helps prevent the spread of fire and reduce the potential impact of the wider forest fire. "For INALUM, the existence of a company must provide benefits and a sense of security for the surrounding community. Therefore, when there is an emergency situation such as karhutla, we try to move together with all parties who have the competence and authority to help handle it. Collaboration is the key so that the response in the field can take place faster and more effectively," said Melati. Meanwhile, BAI President Director, Darwin Saleh Siregar, said that handling the forest fire in Mempawah requires a non-simple effort because some of the fire points are in peatland, where the fire can spread and survive below the surface even though the flame on the ground has been extinguished. "Fire on peatland can spread and survive below the surface even though the flames on the ground have gone out. This condition makes the extinguishing process take longer, adequate water source availability, and repeated sifting and cooling to ensure the fire is completely extinguished and does not reappear," said Darwin. Through synergy with the MIND ID Group, the government, the police, and the local community, INALUM is committed to continue to take an active role in maintaining sustainable environmental sustainability, as well as building awareness and readiness together in facing the potential of karhutla in the future. As one big family of the MIND ID Group, the spirit of togetherness is not only realized in achieving and growing together, but also by being present and supporting each other when facing challenges and emergency conditions.