KUTAI KARTANEGARA – PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur (PHKT) supports the planting of 1000 Avicennia mangrove trees (api-api) and 400 Shrimp Spruce tree seedlings at Kersik Blue Beach, Kersik Village, Kutai Kartanegara District, East Kalimantan (13/09). This activity is part of efforts to preserve the environment and respond to abrasion disasters in the Company's work area.

Superintendent of Santan Terminal, Binto Iskandar Tobing, explained the Company's commitment to carrying out social and environmental responsibility programs in environmental protection and preservation. According to Binto, the Company also handed over coral reef transplant media to local communities and groups, That as the Sadar Wisata Group (Pokdarwis) and the Sahabat Mangrove Group, the Company's partners in the TJSL program.

"The handover of coral reef transplantation media, planting mangroves and shrimp cypress is expected to encourage the improvement of the Blue Kersik beach environment, and the development of Kersik Village as a coastal tourism village," said Binto.

Kersik Village is one of the PHKT-assisted villages of the Northern Operating Area (DOBU), developed as a coastal tourism village to encourage economic, social, and environmental improvement. In line with the Company's vision and mission, PHKT continues to be committed to realizing the independence of coastal communities that are competitive and environmentally friendly.

In the handover event, the Mangrove Friends Community, represented by Syamsul, explained that the selection of Avicena mangrove trees was the result of an evaluation of the planting of 10,000 mangroves in 2021 supported by PHKT. Avicena types have a stronger resistance to the impact of barnacles pests.

Sub-District Head of Marangkayu Rekson Simanjuntak, who was also present at the activity, expressed his appreciation to PHKT and stakeholders that continue to support and contribute to realizing Kersik Village as one of the tourist destinations while maintaining the preservation of Kersik Village.

Some other TJSL PHKT support programs in Kersik Village include community-based waste management of waste banks, Pemecah Gelombang Ambang Rendah (PEGAR), mangrove restoration activities, fish apartments, and coral reef transplantation of village digital transformation, and Swadaya Masyarakat Tangani Minyak Tumpah (SWASTAMITA). In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), these activities were launched by PT Pertamina (Persero), namely goal 13: regarding handling climate change, goal 14: Safeguarding Marine Ecosystems, and goal 15: safeguarding terrestrial ecosystems.

PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur (PHKT) is a subsidiary of PHI that manages upstream oil and gas operations and businesses by applying the principles of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) in the East Kalimantan & Attaka Working Area in East Kalimantan. PHKT, other PHI subsidiaries, and affiliates run innovative Social and Environmental Responsibility programs in the fields of Economy, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, and Disaster Response to support sustainable community empowerment and the achievement of Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). PHI's headquarter is in Jakarta. More information about PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.