Balikpapan – PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) welcomed a delegation from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, a German Federal Government-owned agency engaged in international cooperation and sustainable development, to visit its CSR program site Waste to Energy for Community (Wasteco) at the Manggar Final Waste Processing Site (TPAS), Balikpapan, on Friday (October 17, 2025). The visit was part of the International Capacity Development Program (ICDP), which attracted more than 45 participants from various countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Chile, Colombia, and South Africa.

The Wasteco program is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by PHM that uses methane gas from organic waste processing as an alternative renewable energy source to support household and small-business energy needs around the Manggar landfill. This integrated waste management and methane utilization innovation serves as a sustainable solution to urban waste problems across Indonesia. In 2024, Wasteco was recognized internationally when it was showcased at the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) conference in New York, USA, as a model for community-based environmental management.

Separately, PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) Manager of Communication, Relations & CID, Dony Indrawan, stated that Wasteco is a pioneering program in methane gas management from organic waste at the landfill, producing renewable energy (EBT). The program contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 100,651.70 tons of CO₂eq per year. “Wasteco is our strategic step to help preserve the environment by managing waste and producing energy that empowers communities and improves their welfare, in line with PT Pertamina (Persero)’s sustainability policies,” said Dony.

He added that PHI remains committed to implementing initiatives to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, manage waste, conserve biodiversity, and utilize renewable energy in upstream oil and gas operations. “In line with Subholding Upstream Pertamina and PT Pertamina (Persero)’s sustainability framework, we are committed to running low-carbon upstream operations to support Indonesia’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2060 or earlier,” he explained. This aligns with the government’s broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate environmental damage, and combat global warming.

Meanwhile, Implementation Manager of IKI JET, GIZ Indonesia, Ade Cahyat, expressed appreciation to PHM for its renewable energy innovation through waste management at TPAS Manggar. “We are very grateful for the opportunity to visit the Wasteco Program and witness firsthand how community participation plays a role in developing renewable energy and diversifying the local economy,” he said.

The Wasteco Program adopts six upstream oil and gas exploration technologies for methane gas utilization and has been granted Intellectual Property Rights and Patents by Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights. “We want to ensure that this program reflects the broader positive impact of upstream oil and gas operations beyond their primary role in national energy production,” Dony added.

Balikpapan produces around 385 tons of waste daily, with methane gas potential at TPAS Manggar reaching 1.5 million cubic meters per year. Of that, approximately 820,800 cubic meters per year are currently utilized, benefiting 380 households or about 1,520 residents. The program also stimulates the local economy, with 29 new MSMEs and community waste banks established, involving 113 residents from three nearby neighborhoods.

Additionally, the program has helped households save up to IDR 456 million per year by reducing the use of 3-kg LPG cylinders by 16,800 units annually. Wasteco’s success has been replicated in Bontang and Bali and serves as a reference model for innovation for both domestic and international stakeholders.

Dony concluded that the company continues to implement various CSR programs to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with PHE and PT Pertamina (Persero)’s sustainability policies. “Wasteco supports several SDGs, including Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and Goal 13 (Climate Action),” he said.

PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) in Zona 8. It manages upstream oil and gas operations and businesses in accordance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Mahakam Working Area in East Kalimantan. As a Production Sharing Contract Contractor for the Indonesian government, represented by SKK Migas, PHM, along with its subsidiaries and affiliates, PHI also implements innovative Corporate Social Responsibility programs in the areas of Economics, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, and Disaster Response to support sustainable community empowerment and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. For further information about PHM and PHI, please visit https://phi.pertamina.com.