JAKARTA - The establishment of the new state capital in North Penajam Paser is projected to cause a waste problem within the next 10 years. On the other hand, the price of animal feed is also increasing. In regard with this, PT Pertamina Hulu Indoonesia (PHI) through PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur launched Black Soldier Fly Cultivation Program, also known as Bulatih.

Dony Indrawan, Manager of Communication, Relation and CID at PHI, said that Bulatih program carried out the transfer of knowledge in a certain way and provided facilities and infrastructure assistance.

"Alhamdulillah, there has been a decrease in the cost of animal feed. It can reduce GCG emission by around 1.9 tons of methane,” said Dony in the Sharing Session “Social Investment Strategy and Proper Achievement in the Upstream Oil and Gas Sector" held by E2S, Friday (24/9).

Bulatih program is an integrated community-based organic waste management system using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) bioconversion method. The system puts the community as the driving actor as well as the consumer in organic waste management.

Knowledge transfer and Life Cycle Assessment on organic waste management and utilization through Bulatih was implemented at Terminal Lawe-Lawe.

Bulatih saved the cost of cattle feed with the results of black soldier fly cultivation (maggots). In addition, the program also made the environment more sustainable through organic waste management.

Dony Indrawan mentioned that innovation is the key for the future of Pertamina. “Mature fields need innovation and creativity to continue producing oil and gas. We do that safely, effectively, efficiently, and in an environmentally friendly way,”he explained. 

“Since it has been the soul of our operation, we of course create innovation in social investment as well. Even though it is important, the amount of the budget is not our main focus because the most important thing for us is the benefits that a sustainable program can offer,” said Dony.

In addition to Bulatih, PHI also has other leading programs such as PHM-BSP Field’s 4.0 Farmer program and Integrated Farming System Socially Innovated by Setaria Group (Tante Siska). Both programs are part of the 2021 Company Performance Rating Assessment Program (Proper).
In the sharing session also present as speakers, apart from Doni, were Sigit Reliantoro, Acting Director General of Pollution and Environmental Damage Control (PPKL) of Ministry of Environment and Forestry;  Krisdyatmiko, Head of the Social Development and Welfare Department of Gadjah Mada University’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences; and Risna Resnawaty, a CSR Expert and Head of Social Welfare Program of Padjadjaran University’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.
According to Sigit, PROPER categorizes community empowerment activities into four typologies, namely charity programs at the lowest level, infrastructure development support, community capacity improvement, and at the highest level, community empowerment to make people independent and dignified.

“PROPER has succeeded in encouraging participating companies to reduce the proportion of charity programs and convert them into programs in the other typologies, i.e. capacity improvement, infrastructure development, and empowerment,” he said. 

Sigit also said that in 2020, innovation will still be a trademark for PROPER. PROPER’s concept of innovation is one in which costs are decreased, burdens are reduced, and values are delivered.
“The prerequisite to get a Gold Proper rating is that the program must successfully create social innovation, not only in terms of CSR but also proven to be measurable, efficiently satisfying people’s needs, and utilizing new ways of solving problems,” said Sigit.

Krisdyatmiko stated that PROPER is a good system oriented towards community empowerment and the company’s motivation in implementing CSR.

It is based on the identification of the company’s ideals in doing CSR because the company has the resources to be philanthropic, in the sense of giving to others. “So, it’s about how these resources are utilized, not only for the company’s benefit but also for the wider community,” he said.

According to Risna, social innovation occurs when a company is committed to the communities in its vicinity. Social innovation is also closely related to any kind of changes occurring within and around the company.
“Social innovation in CSR is basically an effective response to satisfy community’s unmet needs. Social innovation has a social purpose and social motive. Social innovation is an innovation in activity or service that a company with social purposes carries out to fulfil social needs,” she said.