Jakarta -PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI), in collaboration with the Bornean Orangutan Rescue Foundation (BOS Foundation), runs an Orangutan Rehabilitation Program located at the Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Center, East Kalimantan. Since 2021, this program has adopted three individual orangutans named Bagus, Ecky and Pedrosa, who will be released back into their habitat in the free forest when they have completed their studies at Forest School.

PHI Senior Manager Relations Farah Dewi revealed that since 2022, this program has also provided rehabilitation support to 3 individual orangutans who require special care (unreleaseable) and the 3 individual orangutans that can be released (releaseable) above.

"Orangutan conservation activities require cooperation with all stakeholders, starting from the government, the community, mass organizations and business people; because its existence is very important in maintaining the balance and health of the ecosystem as well as providing broad benefits that will be shared," explained Dewi.

Dewi added that this program is part of the Company's CSR. "We strive to continue implementing CSR programs that can have a significant and sustainable impact in line with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely points 13 and 15 related to climate change and protecting ecosystems on land," he said.

BOS Foundation CEO Dr. Jamartin Sihite explained that as a primate with 97% of the same DNA as humans, we all need to provide a broader understanding of the urgency of protecting this species. Implementing orangutan conservation requires all parties' cooperation so that efforts to protect orangutans can run well.

"Orangutans have an important role as an umbrella species in the forest which helps regenerate the forest needed to balance the needs of other species in the forest, including the human need for fresh air, clean water and soil protection," he said.

Jamartin added that the rehabilitation program carried out by the BOS Foundation focuses on national and international (IUCN) guidelines and criteria, which aim to equip orphaned orangutans in “Forest Schools” with survival skills suitable for their needs when they are old enough to be released, where they are taught ways to survive in the forest such as foraging, building nests, climbing trees, and recognizing natural enemies.

In the context of World Orangutan Day, which is celebrated every August 19, PHI Environment Manager Kemas Adrian hopes that this support can have a positive impact on the environment and society at large and that this orangutan conservation effort can preserve the vital ecosystem of its home forest, can increase the Orangutan population in nature.

"We carry out environmental management programs according to the company's commitment to reduce carbon emissions, carry out energy efficiency and environmental conservation, such as this orangutan rehabilitation program, as well as support Pertamina's energy transition policy and net zero emission in 2060," explained Kemas.

PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) is part of Pertamina's Upstream Subholding, which manages upstream oil and gas operations and business according to ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) principles in Regional 3 Kalimantan. In 2022, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, PHI recorded oil production of 57.8 thousand barrels of oil per day (MBOPD) and gas production of 668.3 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMSCFD). In achieving its vision of becoming a world-class oil and gas company, PHI continues to carry out various innovations and technological applications in producing safe, efficient, reliable, compliant and environmentally friendly energy to support #EnergiKalimantanForIndonesia. PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. Further information on PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.