Two Singapore-listed firms linked to Indonesian plantation fires in Greenpeace report

A Greenpeace investigation has implicated two Singapore-listed palm oil producers in fires that swept through Indonesian plantation areas, raising fresh concerns about environmental practices in the sector.

First Resources, a mainboard-listed company, has disputed suggestions that the fires originated from its own plantation operations. The company's response comes as environmental scrutiny of large-scale palm oil production intensifies, particularly regarding land-clearing practices and fire management protocols.

The report underscores ongoing tensions between agricultural development and environmental protection in Indonesia, where vast tracts of land are cleared annually for palm oil cultivation. Fires in plantation regions have repeatedly sparked regional air quality concerns and prompted calls for stricter industry oversight.

The naming of Singapore-listed firms reflects the significant role the city-state plays as a hub for major palm oil producers and traders. Both companies are expected to face questions from investors and regulators regarding their compliance with environmental standards and plantation management practices.

Greenpeace has not released full details of its methodology or specific findings linking the companies to the fires, though the organisation has a track record of documenting land-use issues in Southeast Asia's palm oil sector.