Singapore-listed First Resources points to El Nino, says haze-linked fires were outside its operations
Palm oil producer First Resources said the current hotspots are largely concentrated in regions where the group does not operate.
Singapore-listed palm oil firm First Resources has linked this year's El Nino event to the current hotspots of haze. The company clarified that the fire-prone regions are largely outside its own operations. First Resources, alongside First Borneo Plantations and Bumitama Agri, were named in a Greenpeace report as being associated with plantations that contribute to the haze.
Despite facing increasing scrutiny, First Resources reiterated its commitment to fire prevention and management, implementing rigorous measures across its operations. Recent months have seen a significant decline in hotspots, largely due to the long dry spell caused by the 2026 El Nino event. However, some fires have spread from areas outside First Resources' boundaries, despite the company's best efforts to contain them.
The company emphasized that the presence of hotspots within a concession does not necessarily imply guilt, as it could be due to fires originating elsewhere. Meanwhile, Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong commented on investigating which companies might be responsible for the forest and peatland fires in Indonesia, with the country prepared to take action under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act if warranted.
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