Samboja – PT Pertamina EP (PEP) Sangasanga Field carries the Sungai Hitam Lestari program as one of the leading CSR programs. With support from PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) as the parent management company, PEP Sangasanga Field succeeded in developing a Tourism and Ecotourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) based on Proboscis monkey conservation. The primary key to the sustainability of the Sungai Hitam Lestari program is enabling harmonious coexistence between humans and the environment.

Manager of Communication Relations & CID PHI, Dony Indrawan, explained that the inception of the Sungai Hitam Lestari program was prompted by the declining condition and altered function of the proboscis monkey habitat in Indonesia starting from 1990. Ironically, about 60% or 29,500 km2 of Proboscis monkey habitat land remains, also experiencing vulnerability due to its affordability with settlements, ponds, and agriculture. "Along with the increase in human population and high mobility between regions, many areas have become residential areas, ponds, and plantations, causing the area of Proboscis monkeys to be narrower," said Dony.

According to him, the Company is committed to carrying out social and environmental responsibility or CSR programs that support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "In the Sungai Hitam Lestari program, we have outlined steps to accomplish Goal 5 (gender equality), Goal 13 (climate change mitigation), Goal 15 (terrestrial ecosystems preservation), and Goal 17 (partnerships for achieving these goals)," he added.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Sungai Hitam Lestari Pokdarwis, Aidil Amin, revealed that he initially had concerns about ecological changes in the Sungai Hitam area."The most noticeable impact stems from the conversion of green land in both upstream and downstream areas. This then affects the habitat of Proboscis monkeys who already live in the area, "said Aidil. But now, Aidil's anxiety has begun to disappear. Through various activities carried out by the Sungai Hitam Lestari program, there was an increase in the number of Proboscis monkeys in the Sungai Hitam, from 188 in 2013 to 400 in 2022.

For Proboscis monkey conservation to run sustainably, PEP Sangasanga Field also built and taught Pokdarwis about the use of new renewable energy (EBT) in the Sungai Hitam tourist area through the installation of solar panels. This solar panel installation has resulted in economic benefits for Polaris, enabling them to generate Rp70,000,000/ year while saving Rp1,200,000 annually in electricity costs.

Furthermore, PEP Sangasanga Field, in collaboration with partners supported by the Sungai Hitam Lestari program, has planted 2,500 mangrove seedlings. These serve as food sources for Proboscis monkeys and Jeruju-type mangroves (Acanthus ilicifolius), which can be processed into tea by MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) groups. Regarding the environment, 120 Ha of mangrove forest area in the Sungai Hitam area recorded carbon emission absorption of 51.04 tons CO2eq/year with 175.34 tons CO2eq/year.

Dony added that the Company also develops economic aspects in this CSR program to ensure that nature and humans can support each other's existence. "Therefore, in addition to Pokdarwis, the economic activity of Sungai Hitam Lestari MSMEs also continues to be improved, among others, the production of processed juju tea and klappertaart from Nipah fruit," Dony added.

"We aim to develop and continue The Sungai Hitam Lestari program so that it can provide significant positive benefits and impacts for the community with the hope that this program will achieve independence in 2024," he concluded.

PT Pertamina EP Sangasanga Field is part of Pertamina's Regional 3 Upstream Subholding, led by PHI. In carrying out the management of upstream oil and gas operations and businesses by environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, PEP Sangasanga Field, with other PHI subsidiaries and affiliates, carries out innovative Corporate Social Responsibility programs in the fields of Economy, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, and Disaster Response to support sustainable community empowerment and the achievement of Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). PHI's headquarters is in Jakarta. More information about PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.