Hanoi, Vietnam -PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) had the honor of participating as a speaker at the international forum, The 16th Annual Global CSR & ESG Award 2024, held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 25th. During the event, PHM also received the Excellence in Provision of Literacy & Education award for its CSR Program in the education field, namely the Floating Public School Program.

The 16th Annual Global CSR & ESG Award 2024 carried the theme "Generating Meaningful Impact. Unlocking Value," featuring 30 expert speakers from various sectors to discuss the latest developments in CSR and ESG. The Annual Global CSR & ESG Award is an annual international event in the Asia-Pacific region consisting of a summit and awards ceremony.

Pham The Dung, the Deputy General Director of Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology's State Agency for Technology and Innovation, was among the attendees at the event. Hundreds of participants from various countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia, attended the event, including experts, practitioners, and academics specializing in sustainability.

Frans Alexander A. Hukom, the Head of Communication CID & Relations at PHM, represented PHM as a speaker, comprehensively presenting the excellence and uniqueness of the company's environmental CSR program, the Waste to Energy for Community (Wasteco) Program. This initiative involves waste management and methane gas utilization as a new renewable energy source/energi baru terbarukan (EBT).

"The Wasteco Program is a component of Pertamina's Independent Energy Village/Desa Energi Berdikari (DEB) initiative, which aims to enhance access to more accessible, reliable, and sustainable energy. The EBT source, methane gas, is obtained through waste management at the Manggar Village Waste Processing Site/Tempat Pengolahan Akhir Sampah (TPAS) in Balikpapan. This energy source is used to meet the fuel needs of the community, especially in support of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)," explained Frans.

Frans stated that the Wasteco Program integrates PHM's core competencies by employing six oil and gas technologies in the methane gas capture and distribution process, social innovation, the Wasteco process flow, and the sustainable benefits that impact various aspects of life. "The Wasteco Program has contributed to improving the quality of life in the community in terms of education, environment, women's empowerment, socio-cultural, and economic aspects," said Frans.

Currently, methane gas utilization is distributed to more than 380 households around the Manggar Village TPAS, with a volume of around 820,000 m3/year. Its benefits are felt by approximately 1,500 residents, including 28 MSMEs, contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions of 296,356 tons CO2eq/year.

The Wasteco Program location has now developed into a learning center or study tour location for the development of EBT, both from domestic and international/institutional government agencies.

Meanwhile, the Floating Public School Program is located on the coast of the Mahakam Delta, East Kalimantan, adjacent to PHM's operational area. This program includes six elementary and junior high schools to address educational disparities in remote areas. The Floating Public School Program focuses on improving teacher capacity and student learning activities, improving educational infrastructure, accompanying coastal scholars, and developing EBT as a school energy source.

PHM General Manager Setyo Sapto Edi expressed the company's commitment to continue innovating and supporting PT Pertamina (Persero)'s energy efficiency, emission reduction, and transition policies by developing new and renewable energy. "The Wasteco Program and the Floating Public School Program. Both are community development programs consistently carried out by the company. Both programs also support the implementation and contribution of Environmental, Social, and Governance management, or ESG, and Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs," said Edi.

In response to the awards, PHM South Processing Unit (SPU) Site Manager Zaki Hatmanda stated, "We will continue to innovate to provide broader sustainable benefits for improving education, including the development of EBT, which is greatly beneficial to support teaching and learning activities in coastal schools," said Zaki, who was present to receive the award directly.

On a separate occasion, Dony Indrawan, Manager of Communication Relations & CID PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia, explained PHI's and its subsidiaries, such as PHM's, commitment to continuing to implement innovative and sustainable CSR programs.

"We aim to ensure significant positive impacts from the programs we implement for society and the environment. Alongside receiving this award, in the Floating Public School Program, PHM collaborates with schools, local governments, and partner institutions to reduce the gap in educational quality. Teachers receive training on approximately 40 topics throughout 2023, tailored to their needs, potential, and interests/talents," explained Dony.

According to him, several teachers have achieved national and international achievements, including three coastal school teachers from Anggana District who were selected among 50 teachers nationwide to join the Ministry of Education and Culture module development team in Jakarta for three months. In addition, the Floating Public School Program has also won three international awards, including at the Talian Art Geng event in Malaysia and the Fish Art Contest in the United States.

"The implementation of the Wasteco program supports the achievement of SDGs, namely Goal 5 on Gender Equality, Goal 7 on Clean and Affordable Energy, Goal 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Goal 13 on Climate Action. Meanwhile, the Floating Public School Program aligns with efforts to achieve SDG Goal 4 on Quality Education," he concluded.

PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) that manages upstream oil and gas operations by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Mahakam Working Area in East Kalimantan. Through cooperation with SKK Migas, PHM, along with other PHI subsidiaries and affiliates, implements innovative Corporate Social Responsibility programs in the fields of Economy, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, and Disaster Response to support sustainable community empowerment and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PHI's headquarters is in Jakarta. More information about PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.