Environmental Affairs Ministry Assesses 1,317 Companies

Jakarta, Dec 4 (ANTARA) - The Environmental Affairs Ministry has been assessing 1,317 companies from the manufacture, mining, energy, oil and gas, and agro-industry industries, under the Companies` Environmental Performance Rating Program (Proper), during 2011-12. "The Proper program is aimed at encouraging companies to abide by environmental regulations," the ministry said in a press statement here on Tuesday. "It is also an effort to promote the environmental cause by linking the companies` innovativeness and competitiveness ratings with their environment-friendliness," it stated. While assessing the companies under the program, the ministry works with 22 provincial environmental agencies throughout the country. Proper was launched in 1996, but it was stopped during 1997-2001 due to the economic crisis. "In 2002, the program was resumed and its assessment criteria were modified. Initially the program only assessed water pollution control. Later, it included water and air pollution control, hazardous waste treatment and the implementation of environmental impact assessment," the press statement said. During 2002-09, the program assessed the companies on the basis of their environmental preservation efforts. "For the 2010-14 period, the emphasis of Proper program is on extensification and the inclusion of environmentally friendly components in the companies` production processes," the statement noted. "Through Proper`s extensification efforts, the government has established a supervision network by involving the provincial and district/city administrations," it said. "During 2010-11, eight provinces joined the supervision network of the Proper program. And in the 2011-12 period, the network involved 22 provinces and 400 districts/cities," the press release added. Based on their performance ratings, the companies are classified under five categories: Gold, Green, Blue, Red and Black.