
新加坡扩大了对印度尼西亚引发烟霾火灾的调查,这些火灾产生的烟霾笼罩了这个城市国家,并要求10家在当地注册的公司提供信息。
Singapore expanded its investigation into haze-creating fires in Indonesia that have blanketed the city-state in smog, requesting information from 10 locally registered companies.
国家环境局周五发表声明称,已向这些公司发出通知,要求其提供文件及其在印度尼西亚拥有的土地特许经营权详情、灭火和防火措施,以及与其他相关公司的关系。
The National Environment Agency sent notices seeking documents and details of land concessions in Indonesia owned by the firms, their fire-fighting and blaze prevention measures, and their relationship to other relevant companies, according to a Friday statement.
国家环境局表示,这10家在新加坡注册的公司均涉及棕榈油或林业领域,包括丰益国际有限公司、金辉国际私人有限公司和First Resources Ltd.。
All 10 Singapore-registered companies are involved in the palm oil or forestry sectors and include Wilmar International Ltd., Golden Agri International Pte Ltd., and First Resources Ltd., the agency said.
由于印度尼西亚的火灾引发的烟霾,新加坡、马来西亚及东南亚其他地区经历了自2015年以来最严重的污染。虽然火灾每年都会发生,但近几个月来,由于创纪录的厄尔尼诺现象加剧了干旱状况,问题变得更加严重。
Singapore, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia have experienced some of the worst pollution since 2015 as a result of haze generated by blazes in Indonesia. While fires are typical every year, the issue has been exacerbated in recent months as drought conditions have been worsened by a record El Niño.
全球最大棕榈油炼制商丰益国际在一份声明中表示,“正在努力配合”国家环境局的通知。First Resources Ltd.周六表示,正在“审查通知,并将提供要求的文件和信息”。
Wilmar, the world’s biggest palm oil refiner, said in a statement that “work is in progress to comply,” with the NEA notice. First Resources is “reviewing the notice and will provide the requested documents and information,” it said Saturday.
在苏门答腊、加里曼丹和巴布亚经营油棕资产的金辉国际未立即回应置评请求。该生产商本月早些时候表示,不知情有任何信息表明其业务导致了烟霾,并已在厄尔尼诺引发的干旱来临前加强了防火措施。
Golden Agri, which operates oil palm assets across Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The producer said earlier this month that it wasn’t aware of information indicating its operations had contributed to the haze, and that it had stepped up fire-prevention measures ahead of the El Niño-driven drought.
国家环境局此前已向10家在印度尼西亚注册的公司发出信息要求,涉及烟霾问题。
The NEA earlier issued requests for information to 10 Indonesia-registered companies in connection with the haze.
新加坡总理黄循财承诺将调查导致区域性烟霾的相关公司,并依据《跨境烟霾污染法》采取法律行动。该法赋予新加坡对污染公司处以每天最高10万新元(约合7.8万美元)罚款的权力。然而,这个城市国家迄今尚未依据该立法发出任何处罚。
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has pledged to investigate companies behind the region-wide smog and to take legal action under the Transboundary Haze Act. The law gives Singapore the ability to fine companies up to S$100,000 ($78,000) per day of pollution. However, the city-state has yet to issue any penalties under the legislation.
法律部周五在一份声明中表示,一个由律师事务所、审计师和具有跨境调查专长的调查公司组成的专家小组将支持政府的努力。
A panel of experts including law firms, auditors and investigative companies with expertise in cross-border inquiries will support the government’s efforts, the law ministry said Friday in a statement.
声明说:“将审查本地和外国公司的行为、其企业关系和供应链,以确定它们是否涉及引发或纵容导致或加剧烟霾的火灾。”
“The conduct of local and foreign companies, their corporate relationships and supply chains, will be examined to establish whether they have been involved in causing or condoning the fires that caused or contributed to the haze,” the ministry said.
一些棕榈油生产商此前否认其在印度尼西亚的业务导致或加剧了污染,并指出它们实行严格的零燃烧政策。
Some palm oil producers have previously denied that their operations in Indonesia have caused or contributed to the pollution, pointing to strict zero-burning policies.
新加坡空气质量周六恶化,截至当地时间上午10时,这个城市国家采用的首选指标——24小时污染标准指数(PSI)——在118至148之间,属于“不健康”水平。读数达到201或以上属于“非常不健康”,301以上则被视为“危险”,并可能触发停课。
Air quality in Singapore worsened Saturday, with the city-state’s preferred gauge — the 24-hour PSI —ranging from 118 to 148 as of 10 a.m. local time, levels considered to be “unhealthy.”Readings of 201 or more are considered “very unhealthy” and levels above 301 are regarded as “hazardous” and can trigger school closures.