Samarinda– Representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) of the Republic of Indonesia and the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force/Satuan Kerja Khusus Pelaksana Kegiatan Usaha Hulu Minyak dan Gas Bumi Perwakilan Kalimantan dan Sulawesi (SKK Migas Kalsul) conducted monitoring activities at one of PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam's (PHM) CSR program locations in the Pela Village and the Cultural Village of Sungai Bawang, East Kalimantan, on October 7-8, 2024. The activity also aimed to review the development process for tourist villages in East Kalimantan, the site of Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN).

The Sub-coordinator for Upstream Oil and Gas Cooperation at the Ministry of ESDM, Gesit Prawatiningsih, stated that the tourism development program in Pela and Sungai Bawang is excellent. "These tourist and cultural villages are expected to gain wider recognition beyond Kalimantan. The programs could also become national initiatives known internationally," said Gesit.

Pela Tourist Village is an environmentally friendly tourist destination that engages in environmental preservation efforts, such as the conservation of the Mahakam dolphin and the proboscis monkey, which serve as attractions for the village. In addition to promoting the tourism sector, this program also protects endemic species in the Mahakam waters and provides benefits to the people of Pela Village through the Kelompok Sadar Wisata Bekayuh, Baumbai dan Bebudaya (Pokdarwis 3B). Pokdarwis 3B has successfully mobilized and managed the local community to showcase local cultural and tourism programs to domestic and international tourists.

In September 2024, Pela Tourist Village won the Indonesian Tourist Village Achievement Award at the Wonderful Indonesia Impact Appreciation event and the launch of the Indonesia tourism guidebook, "Wonderful Indonesia Outlook 2024/2025," held in Jakarta. Competing against 33 other tourist villages, Pela Tourist Village successfully ranked among the top six winners for its excellence in managing local tourism potential.

The Head of the Formalities and Communication Department at SKK Migas Kalsul, Wisnu Wardhana, expressed that dolphin conservation is a noble program for the Mahakam dolphin. "The program in Pela is extraordinary with its conservation efforts for the Mahakam dolphin, which helps maintain the natural habitat of Mahakam while providing economic value for the surrounding communities that help preserve the ecosystem and tourism," Wisnu said. He added that the programs in Sungai Bawang Village are equally attractive with their local cultural conservation initiatives.

During the event, the Head of Communication Relations & CID Zona 8, Frans Alexander A. Hukom, stated that the success of the Community Empowerment Program is a result of collaboration between the company, beneficiaries, supporting partners, and all stakeholders. "PHM is committed to implementing social responsibility programs to enhance community independence in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 8 regarding decent work and economic growth, Goal 14 about conserving marine ecosystems, and Goal 17 about strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development," concluded Frans.

PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) that manages upstream oil and gas operations and business by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Mahakam Working Area in East Kalimantan. In collaboration with SKK Migas, PHM, its subsidiaries, and affiliates continue implementing various innovations and technological applications to produce safe, efficient, reliable, compliant, and environmentally friendly energy to realize #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. For more information about PHI, visit https://phi.pertamina.com.