Jakarta– One of PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam’s (PHM) community development programs, Waste to Energy for Community (Wasteco), has successfully led its Local Hero, Suyono, to receive the Elshinta Award 2025 in the "Humanitarian Concern for the Environment" category. The award, presented on February 5, 2025, in Jakarta, highlights the company's success in fostering self-reliance, capacity building, and economic growth for Local Heroes and small businesses (UMKM) around TPAS Manggar, Balikpapan, where the Wasteco program is implemented.

As part of the Wasteco initiative, PHM has developed an innovative approach to utilizing methane gas produced from the decomposition of organic waste at TPAS Manggar. This methane gas is then processed into cooking fuel and distributed to 380 households, transforming organic waste management into an alternative energy source for the community.

As the Methane Gas Manager at TPAS Manggar, Suyono expressed gratitude for his achievement as a Local Hero in the Wasteco program through the Elshinta Award. He hopes this accomplishment will inspire other Local Heroes. "It is better to make a living from waste than to live as waste," said Suyono.

In a separate statement, Frans Alexander A. Hukom, Head of Communication Relations & CID Zona 8, emphasized the important role of Wasteco's Local Heroes in raising public awareness and participation in organic waste management. "We congratulate Mr. Suyono, our Wasteco Local Hero, for his dedication and contribution to this program," he stated.

According to him, Local Heroes have successfully increased community participation around TPAS Manggar, making the PHM-led Wasteco program a bridge for empowering local communities to become more independent, proactive, and innovative.

Manager of Communication Relations & CID PT Regional 3 Kalimantan, Dony Indrawan,  reaffirmed the company's commitment to running innovative Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs that support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He emphasized that the Wasteco program aligns with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and contributes to achieving the SDGs, exceptionally Goal 7, Affordable and Clean Energy; Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Goal 13 Climate Action.

"Utilizing methane gas from waste is part of our effort to promote better waste management while encouraging the use of affordable and accessible alternative energy for communities," he explained.

He further highlighted that the Wasteco program has created multiple benefits, including energy supply, environmental preservation, and economic empowerment. "Wasteco has successfully produced 594,000 m³ of methane gas per year, providing cost savings of IDR 420 million per year for households and reducing potential carbon dioxide emissions by up to 288,449 tons CO₂eq per year," Dony concluded.

PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) that manages upstream oil and gas operations and business activities by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Mahakam Working Area, East Kalimantan. In collaboration with SKK Migas, PHM, along with PHI's subsidiaries and affiliates, continuously drives innovation and technological advancements to deliver safe, efficient, reliable, compliant, and environmentally friendly energy in support of #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. For more information about PHI, visit https://phi.pertamina.com.