TSH Resources says detected hotspots were outside operational plantation areas

TSH Resources has sought to distinguish between fire hotspots detected across its overall estate footprint and those occurring in its actual operational areas, stating that the majority of incidents fell outside zones under active cultivation management.

The company said the 274 hotspots identified within its concession boundaries during the ten-month period from January to October 2021 were concentrated in community enclave areas interspersed throughout the estate. Such enclaves—areas inhabited by local communities within plantation concessions—operate independently of the company's direct management and supervision.

The clarification appears aimed at separating the company's operational responsibility from fire incidents in areas where communities maintain independent land use practices. Industry observers note that distinguishing between hotspots in managed plantation zones and those in community areas has become standard practice for large palm oil operators seeking to clarify their fire management record.

The statement comes amid heightened scrutiny of fire incidents across Southeast Asian palm oil operations, particularly during dry seasons when fire risks escalate significantly across the region's agricultural landscape.