Balikpapan - Kersik Village, one of PT Pertamina Hulu East Kalimantan (PHKT) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, received the 2022 Main Climate Village Program Certificate (Proklim) Award from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (25/10). Kersik Village is located in Marang kayu District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan Province, which is the Ring 1 area of PHKT upstream oil and gas operations, especially the Northern Operations Area (DOBU).

Proklim is a national-scale assessment event held by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to increase the participation of the community, government, and companies in strengthening capacity related to climate change adaptation and mitigation activities. This assessment event is intended for Villages/Sub-district that have carried out environmental management activities as a form of adaptation and mitigation to climate change.

Adaptation to the environment means how the community can adapt to the impact of climate change. For example, the district has been able to cope with or overcome diseases caused by weather changes, such as dengue fever. Meanwhile, environmental mitigation is an activity carried out to reduce the effect of greenhouse gases. As a form of controlling the climate, the condition of mitigation activities is, for example, managing waste problems and planting trees to provide fresh air that can prevent forest fires.

The Head of the Environmental Service (DLH) of Kutai Kartanegara Regency, represented by Rustam Effendi., SH, M.Sc., said that Kersik Village is one of the villages in Kukar that is ready to take part in the KLHK Proklim assessment. Rustam explained why Kersik Village had carried out various activities closely related to Proklim, which the PHKT CSR Program supported.

"In Kersik Village, activities that have been running include installing PEGAR Geo bags, procuring fish apartments, planting mangroves, transplanting coral reefs, processing organic waste into organic fertilizers and pesticides, making handicrafts with economic value, such as making handicrafts from coconut fiber and crafts from plastic waste, procurement of rainfed, organic vegetable planting, formation of disaster response volunteer groups, and others. This shows that there is an active role, concern, collaboration, and good cooperation between companies, the government, and the village community," explained Rustam. 

Meanwhile, the Head of Communication Relations & CID Zona 10 Dharma Saputra was also happy about the achievements and awards received by Kersik Village. According to him, this achievement results from a collaboration between PHKT, village governments, district governments, and especially the Kutai Kartanegara Regency Environmental Service (DLH). According to him, Kersik Village experienced acceleration from the previous Primary category appreciation, not through the Madya, but directly getting the Main Category Proklim award.

"The award as the Main Proklim Village can increase the enthusiasm of the people in Kersik Village to continue to carry out various positive activities from the training that PHKT has provided so the community will create that sustainability. In addition, this appreciation can raise a good name and a positive reputation for the Regency Government, Village Government, Companies, and the Kersik Village community," said Dharma.

Village Head Kersik Jumadi said that participation in this Proklim activity is a form of community and government concern for the environment and support for sustainability, especially in ensuring food needs. Thus, Proklim is not only seen as a competition venue but also as a common interest. Jumadi assessed that the achievement of Kersik Village in Proklim activities is expected to trigger other villages to participate in environmental adaptation and mitigation to reduce the impact of climate change.

PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur (PHKT) is a subsidiary of PHI which manages upstream oil and gas operations and businesses by following Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the East Kalimantan & Attaka Working Area in East Kalimantan. PHKT, other PHI subsidiaries, and affiliates continue to carry out various innovations and technological applications in producing safe, efficient, reliable, compliant, and environmentally friendly energy to realize #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. More information about PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.