PT Berlian Mitra Inti Digugat atas Dugaan Kelalaian Kebakaran Lahan: Penegakan Tanggung Jawab Lingkungan Perusahaan di Riau

PT Berlian Mitra Inti (BMI), a domestic palm oil company in Siak, Riau, became the subject of a criminal investigation after fire affected parts of its 1,200-hectare concession in 2020, with approximately 20 hectares being burned. The fires originated outside the company’s estate but spread into its licensed plantation area. Investigations focused on whether the company complied with all statutory obligations for fire prevention, including infrastructure, patrolling, and emergency response, as required by national environmental and forestry regulations.

Field testimonies from law enforcement, local firefighting brigades, PT BMI staff, and local community fire groups outlined a coordinated but ultimately protracted response, with fires extinguished after several days. Authorities scrutinized whether PT BMI had sufficient firefighting capabilities, staff training, operational procedures, and environmental permits. Documentation showed PT BMI had secured key business and location permits but there were questions about the effectiveness and legal fulfillment of its environmental management and emergency preparedness obligations. The case highlights ongoing tensions in the enforcement of corporate environmental responsibilities in resource sectors, particularly under Indonesia’s strict liability laws for land and forest fire prevention

PT Berlian Mitra Inti (BMI), perusahaan kelapa sawit di Siak, Riau, menjadi objek penyelidikan pidana setelah kebakaran melanda sekitar 20 hektare dari total 1.200 hektare konsesi perkebunannya pada tahun 2020. Kebakaran bermula di luar area perkebunan perusahaan, namun kemudian merambat ke wilayah konsesi milik PT BMI. Investigasi difokuskan pada pemenuhan kewajiban perusahaan untuk mencegah dan menangani kebakaran, mulai dari infrastruktur pendukung, patroli, hingga kesiapsiagaan darurat, sebagaimana diatur dalam regulasi lingkungan dan kehutanan nasional.

Keterangan dari berbagai pihak, mulai dari aparat penegak hukum, petugas pemadam, staf PT BMI, hingga kelompok masyarakat sekitar, menunjukkan ada upaya koordinasi dalam upaya pemadaman yang berlangsung selama beberapa hari hingga api padam. Namun proses penegakan hukum dan audit lingkungan bertujuan memastikan apakah fasilitas, SOP, pelatihan, dan izin lingkungan yang dimiliki PT BMI sudah memenuhi standar minimum sesuai undang-undang, serta menyoroti penerapan strict liability dalam penanggulangan kebakaran lahan di sektor perusahaan konsesi di Indonesia.