New Take on Environmental Audits
Fidelis E. Satriastanti | April 12, 2011
The Environment Ministry on Tuesday announced the country's first 14 certified environmental auditors.
"[Environmental] audits are not a new thing and already exist, however, all this time companies could use their own auditors and they were not certified," Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said after announcing the list. "So now, if companies want to conduct an audit, they'll have to hire these people."
The 2009 Law on Environmental Protection and Management stipulates that all companies engaged in high-risk activities involving toxic chemicals and waste disposal must undergo inspections by independent and certified auditors to ensure they adhere to safe regulatory standards.
Henry Bastaman, deputy of technical support development and capacity building at the ministry, said the 14 new auditors would be sent out into the field to conduct both voluntary and compulsory environmental inspections of companies.
The compulsory inspections were ordered by the ministry because the companies "are suspected of not complying with their environmental plans or because of public reports," he said.
Regardless of the nature of the inspections, he added, they will be carried out by auditors recognized by the ministry.
"We have not listed any companies yet that will be forced to undergo [compulsory] environmental audits, but for regular audits, our priority is the 1,000 companies that are going through the PROPER [Corporate Environmental Performance Ratings] process this year," Henry said.
Gusti said a total of 54 people had applied for the certification since August but only 14 had passed the required test.
The test is administered by an independent audit agency, the National Association of Indonesian Consultant Experts (Intakindo). The association was selected by the ministry and other stakeholders, Gusti said.
"I have instructed Intakindo to broaden its certification program to all areas of the country so we can meet the demand for environmental auditors, but we want them to be highly qualified also, so all they must meet all requirements," he said.
"The ministry wants to reach 300 certified auditors within three years maximum. This year, we want to have 100 auditors, next year 100 more and 100 more the following year."
Erie Heryadi, chairman of Intakindo, said only a small number of auditors had been certified so far because the association was looking for candidates with experience in the relevant fields.
He said the test was difficult, and used as a comparison the environmental impact analysis (Amdal) competence test, which has a passing grade of about 20 percent.
Gusti said the auditors would be monitored closely and that the program would be evaluated if the independence of the inspectors came into question. |
