Three companies have been shut down permanently after having their licences revoked over their role in the blazes that choked vast expanses of southeast Asia with acrid haze and cost Indonesia USD 16 billion.
It is the first time the government has revoked company licences over forest fires, an annual occurrence caused by slash-and-burn land clearance.
The environment ministry also froze the operations of 14 companies and said they face closure if they do not meet the government's demands over fire prevention.
"We have sanctioned 23 companies in total, ranging from administrative sanctions to license revocation, while 33 others are still in the process, they could have their licenses revoked too if they are found guilty," environment ministry official Kemal Amas told AFP.
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The ministry has been investigating 276 companies in total since the fires broke out in September.
"We need firmer law enforcement so that this catastrophe does not repeat itself, it's been going on for 18 years but nobody has learnt their lesson," Amas said.
Activists welcomed the government's new commitment to punish firms.
The Indonesian Forum for Environment said it was unheard of for the government to revoke licences, as many companies previously avoided facing trial.
"The minister has the courage to not only freeze the companies' operation but also chase the owners in a civil case, this is great and this must be guarded carefully," Kurniawan told AFP.
"In the past some people were named suspects, but for them to actually lose their licenses, this is the first time," he said.