Kuala Lumpur, 27 July 2016 - Sime Darby Plantation yesterday received a letter from the Department of Environment, Johor, reinstating the license to operate its Ulu Remis Palm Oil Mill in Johor.

In the letter, based on the initiatives taken by Sime Darby Plantation as well as the Company’s commitment to implement improved control measures at its Mills, the Department cancelled the suspension notice allowing the Mill to resume its operations.

On 14 July 2016, Sime Darby Plantation’s Ulu Remis Palm Oil Mill received a Notice of 60-day Suspension of License. This was issued due to an overflow of treated POME in 1 out of 109 field furrows. Investigations showed that the effluent overflow traces were contained and captured by our field control trenches to ensure there were no spillages into any waterways.

On earlier reports of the Mill’s Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) contributing to the contamination of the river, we would like to clarify that tests on water samples from various points around our operations area at both Sungai Remis and Sungai Sayong (both lead into Sungai Johor) indicated that indeed there was no evidence the mill or the estate could be the cause of ammonia contamination.

Sime Darby Plantation is committed to protecting the environment and conserving biodiversity through sustainable development. This is a prime consideration in all aspects and stages of our plantation operations.