Indonesia: Subsidiary of major tire manufacturer in violation of environmental regulations ordered to suspend operations 
On February 4, 2024, Indonesian news agency reported that PT. Multistrada Arah Sarana, a subsidiary of tire manufacturer Michelin, was imposed with administrative sanction for alleged violation of environmental regulations by the government of Bekasi Regency, West Java Province. The company was given time to take corrective measures after being warned of the incompliance by the authorities but failed to do so. As a result, the Bekasi Environment Bureau temporarily suspended the company’s production activities, placing a sign of “operation prohibited facility” at its factory on February 2, 2024.
According to Mr. Syafri Donny Sirait, Head of the Bekasi Environment Bureau, the company failed to renew its Environmental Approval Document despite it has made changes to its manufacturing facilities; as well as failed to be equipped with technical specification documents for storage of hazardous and toxic waste (B3 waste)*. These are violations of Article 85, Paragraphs 1 and 2, and Article 285, Paragraph 3, of the Government Regulation No. 22/2021 on Environmental Protection and Management, the head of the agency said. In addition to the said violations, the following items have also been pointed out by the authority.
- Non-compliance with air pollution control rules pursuant to Article 28 of the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry No. 05/2021 on Procedures for Issuance of Technical Approval and Operational Feasibility Letter for Environmental Pollution Control (i.e., mandatory acquisition of technical approvals for plant exhaust gas treatment and operational feasibility certificates).
- Non-compliance with the cooperation pledge made under the Bekasi Regency Regional Regulation No. 09/2007 on Management License of Non-Hazardous Solid Waste with Economic Value.
* In accordance with Article 53 of the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry No. 06/2021, the “technical specification documents for the storage of B3 waste” must include the following information:
- Name, source, characteristics, and quantity of the B3 waste to be stored
- Documentation describing the B3 waste storage areas
- Documentation describing the packaging of the B3 waste
- Environmental requirements
- Declaration statement on the compliance with the technical specification documents for the storage of the B3 waste
PT. Multistrada Arah Sarana is a company that originated in Indonesia but was acquired by Michelin in 2019.
Related Links
- Report by the state-owned news agency Antara:
https://www.antaranews.com/berita/3947778/pemkab-bekasi-hentikan-produksi-multistrada-ancam-lingkungan-hidup - Government Regulation No. 22/2021 on Environmental Protection and Management:
https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/161852/pp-no-22-tahun-2021 - Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry No. 05/2021 on Procedures for Issuance of Technical Approval and Operational Feasibility Letter for Environmental Pollution Control:
https://jdih.menlhk.go.id/new2/uploads/files/2021pmlhk005_menlhk_06082021104129.pdf - Bekasi Regency Regional Regulation No. 09/2007 on Management License of Non-Hazardous Solid Waste with Economic Value:
https://jdih.bekasikab.go.id/page/info/produk/87
