From 12 to 16 May 2015,  a Verification Team (VT) from  Intertek Certification International Sdn Bhd (Intertek), a RSPO-accredited company, conducted an on-site assessment on PT. BSS particularly at the pertinent locations referenced in the Aidenvironment report of March 2015 and Aksenta report of May 2015. Following the assessment, Intertek produced a report on its findings in July 2015, a copy of which can be viewed here.

The report provides the following notable findings:                           

• The records, sequence of events and approvals shows that IOI has generally followed the local legal requirements relating to the concession land approvals for the development of new plantations in Kalimantan, Indonesia;
• The RSPO NPP of March 2014 pertaining to ongoing planting was adhered to;
• Documentation of the RSPO NPP Management Plans under RSPO NPP was inadequate;
• Evidence of clearing at some deep peat forested sites was confirmed by PT. BSS and subsequent rehabilitation of the site has been sighted;
• The construction of outlet canal to connect to Jelai River at Central South of PT. BSS was found to have encroached into areas which appeared to be mainly APL (Areal Penggunaan Lain) shrub land and not ‘Protected Forest’ land (as alleged);
• HCS/HCV lost near HCV area #2 due to canal construction estimated at 0.9 ha or about 1.0% of the total HCV area of 87 ha as determined in the Aksenta Report (May 2015)  is confirmed and the estimated area size has been fairly reported;
• Evidence of fire outbreaks within and outside of the concession from July to November 2014 which were recorded by PT. BSS. However, the cause of these fires remains inconclusive. It can be due to the possibility of naturally occurring peat fires during the dry season or caused by the traditional practice of local communities in preparing the land prior to paddy planting;
• The Time Bound Plan for PT. BSS has been reviewed periodically by the plantation management to accommodate the ‘plasma’ programs made with the local communities in accordance with the Governmental requirements for new plantations;
• Lastly, during the verification exercise, the senior management of PT. BSS has been cooperative and has demonstrated a satisfactory degree of willingness and commitment to work within the requirements of the RSPO NPP.

With regard to finding no. 4 about the clearing at some deep peat forested areas which has been acknowledged earlier by PT. BSS, the operational management has explained that the clearing was accidentally done as the ANDAL/EIA report did not reveal that the areas contained deep peat. The remedial measure for the cleared trees had commenced soon after by encouraging the regrowth of local vegetation.

With regard to finding no. 6 about the HCV area of 0.9 ha, as has been stated in the previous update statement, IOI will discuss with RSPO about the remedial measure on the land occupied by the canal.

IOI further takes note of the recommendations contained in both the Intertek report and the earlier Aksenta report and will implement them where it is appropriate and practical to do so. In fact, a few of the recommendations have already been implemented to date.

With the issuance of this second update on IOI’s first statement issued on 15 April 2015, IOI believes it has adequately addressed the concerns and complaints raised by Aidenvironment in its report dated 30 March 2015. IOI has tried very hard throughout the intervening period to tackle this matter through a step-by-step, measured and transparent approach and hopes to have achieved some result in this approach. Looking at the future, IOI looks forward to more support, cooperation and assistance from various parties in its journey of Sustainability and Responsibility.