SINGAPORE, Sept 25 — The Government has already identified some companies which could be responsible for some of the fires that have resulted in the haze, and the National Environment Agency has written to the Indonesian authorities asking for a list of companies that Indonesian investigations have shown may be implicated.

Revealing this at a media briefing yesterday, Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said the Government could be issuing notices to these companies in the days to come, pursuant to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act. More details will be revealed today, he said, adding that investigations are in progress.

Last year, Singapore passed the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, which states that haze pollution has occurred if the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) — for the same or any part of Singapore — remains above 100 for at least 24 hours. It further stipulates that it is an offence for any entity to cause or contribute to haze pollution here. This has happened at least twice in recent weeks. Asked whether the Government was investigating further breaches, Dr Balakrishnan said the Government was still collecting evidence.

The haze has worsened dramatically since Wednesday, due to a tropical storm in the West Pacific Ocean near the Philippines, resulting in the winds shifting to blow from the south and south-west, bringing with it dense haze from Sumatra. Hourly PM2.5 concentrations have fluctuated widely, but have been on an upward trend overall.

Dr Balakrishnan said what was of concern was a dense “haze cloud” south of Singapore that is creeping closer to the island. “That’s why you are getting this volatile but progressively worsening haze (yesterday).”

With the region experiencing El Nino year, the dry conditions will last till November. But wind directions are very changeable and can be affected by incidents like typhoons, and it is difficult to give a forecast of what to expect over the next few weeks, said Dr Balakrishnan.

“Obviously we also hope the Indonesian authorities’ efforts on the ground, and I am very encouraged that the President of Indonesia is on the ground himself ... (we hope) that his efforts, his determination, will be translated into actual action on the ground to put out those fires. Our offer of assistance is still on the table and we still stand ready to work with ASEAN partners to resolve this problem,” he said. — TODAY