PALMOILMAGAZINE, TAMIANG LAYANG — Plans by PT Indopenta Sejahtera Abadi to significantly revise its palm oil plantation operations have come under close scrutiny during a meeting of the Technical Team and the Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) Evaluation Commission of Barito Timur Regency. The meeting, held on Monday at the Hall of the Barito Timur Environmental Agency (DLH), discussed a proposal to reduce the company’s plantation permit area from 16,455 hectares to 9,055.48 hectares, alongside plans to construct a palm oil processing mill.
The Head of the Barito Timur DLH, represented by Secretary Messias, stressed that the proposed changes go beyond administrative adjustments. According to him, both the reduction in land area and the addition of industrial activities could alter the landscape and generate environmental, social, and economic impacts for surrounding communities.
“These changes must be examined comprehensively. An Addendum to the Environmental Impact Analysis (ANDAL), along with updated Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans (RKL–RPL), must be prepared and carefully evaluated to ensure potential negative impacts are mitigated from the planning stage,” Messias said, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from the Barito Timur Regency administration on Tuesday (23 December 2025).
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The meeting was attended by heads of relevant local agencies, representatives of PT Indopenta Sejahtera Abadi as the project proponent, the Regency AMDAL Technical Team, the AMDAL Evaluation Commission, and environmental consultants responsible for preparing the assessment documents. To strengthen coordination across levels of government, representatives from the Provincial Technical Team and the Central Kalimantan Provincial Environmental Agency also joined the discussion virtually via Zoom.
Village governments directly affected by the plantation activities were also involved. The village heads of Telang, Siong, Balawa, and Tampu Langit attended the forum to convey local concerns and community interests.
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The inclusion of village representatives was deemed crucial to ensure that the AMDAL review process addresses not only technical considerations but also social dynamics and the needs of communities living around the concession area.
Through this forum, the Barito Timur Regency Government reaffirmed its commitment to promoting environmentally sound and sustainable palm oil development. The AMDAL process is positioned as both a regulatory control instrument and a shared agreement among government, communities, and companies.
“The use of natural resources must be carried out responsibly. Development today must not leave environmental problems for future generations,” Messias concluded. (P2)
