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Environmental Management

Fire Prevention and Management
103-1, 103-2, 103-3
The clearing of land for agriculture purposes through open burning
releases GHGs, contributing to climate change and transboundary
haze in the region. Apical is committed to the strict enforcement of
a “zero burn policy” which applies to all our suppliers. While larger
plantations are able to use alternative methods of land clearing for their
new plantings and replanting, smallholders are often unable to do the
same due to financial constraints. Open burning is also seen by some
smallholders as a means to improve soil fertility and reduce the need
for fertilisers.

Fires that are started during dry season can spread to adjacent
plantations by wind or underground burning when the water table
is low. It is therefore important to assist and raise awareness among
smallholders on the practice of zero burning. Apical published a
guidance on our website to support our suppliers on prevention,
early detection and control of open burning in oil palm plantations.
Within our own refineries, we require health and safety managers to
organise regular fire prevention trainings.
In 2020, we supported our key supplier Asian Agri in their Fire Free
Village Program (FFVP) engagement with 16 villages – 9 in Riau and
7 in Jambi - covering about 343,000 hectares. The FFVP’s purpose
was to raise awareness on fire prevention and management.
We will continue to identify opportunities to collaborate with suppliers,
neighbouring companies, relevant governmental bodies and local
communities on fire prevention.

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