Sangatta– PT Pertamina EP (PEP) Sangatta Field has developed the Pengembangan Tani Hutan Kelulut Sangatta program, abbreviated as Prolekta, in the conservation area of Kutai National Park, East Kalimantan. What began as a simple idea to improve the inefficient Kelulut bee cultivation system has grown into a program that has created several new business subunits and received patents for equipment.

PEP Sangatta Field is committed to assisting farmer groups that lack adequate facilities, which has led to suboptimal honey yields. The implementation of the Prolekta Program began in 2021 with activities focusing on infrastructure development, food safety training, and the program's inauguration. In the following year, the program expanded to include stingless bee cultivation training, tourism management, the initiation of the One Person One Tree movement, and the innovation of Simple Suction Tools.

Sangatta Field Manager Cahyo Nugroho explained that the development of the company's CSR program is tailored to the results of social mapping in the operation area. "Through social mapping in villages within the PEP Sangatta Field operation area, we can ensure the utilization of local potential, the positive impact provided, and the program's sustainability," said Cahyo.

He added that contributions and collaborations with external parties also support the success of the company's CSR program. "We collaborate with various parties, including UMKM, BUMDes, the government, and the community," he added. In implementing the Prolekta Program, PEP Sangatta Field collaborates with the Cooperative Office, Tourism Office, Agriculture Office, Kita Berdikari Community, South Sangatta Village Government, Mulawarman University, and the East Kutai Tourism Guides Association to advance the program in various aspects.

In 2023, the program's development continued with establishing the Kutai Timur Specialty Products Gallery, procurement of production machinery, and construction of a boardwalk. Program strengthening increased in 2024 through the consolidation of Group Independent Enterprises, the development of modern technology, and the expansion of business subunits.

Head of Communication Relations & CID Zona 9 Elis Fauziyah reported that the development of business subunits successfully resulted in five new enterprises: UMKM Stingless Bee Honey Producers; Educational Tourism in Stingless Bee Cultivation; Kutai Timur Specialty Products Creativity Store & Zero Waste Cafeteria; Energy Depot; and Simple Trigona Waste Bank. Each subunit has a distinct scope of work. The UMKM Kelulut Honey Producers, the main business subunit, focuses on producing Kelulut Honey Bee and bee pollen and processing liquid propolis. Educational Tourism in Kelulut Bee Cultivation develops the cultivation sector into educational tourism and involves vulnerable groups as educators for visitors.

The Kutai Timur Specialty Products Creativity Store & Zero Waste Cafeteria provides creative Kutai Timur products, initiates wastewater treatment installations, and applies responsible production concepts. The Depot Energi processes liquid smoke, propolis waste, and the backlog as mushroom-growing media. Finally, the Bank Sampah Sederhana Trigona processes all organic domestic waste into fertilizer, sorts inorganic waste, and is a focal point for applying responsible and environmentally conscious business concepts.

According to Elis, the program is expected to achieve independence next year with the help of optimal sustainability innovation. The Prolekta Program aims to assist forest farmers in developing habitats and managing both bee potential and the products produced.

Elis added that the program has had a positive environmental impact, including reducing emissions by 0.15172 tons of CO2 equivalent per year, processing 100 kilograms of plastic waste for reuse as planting media, and providing direct benefits to 25 people. "This program produces five sizes of stingless bee honey packaging: 50ml, 100ml, 250ml, 500ml, and 1 liter," she explained.

Additionally, there are nine derivative honey products: ginger cookies, honey crackers, Kelulut coconut cookies, date honey milk, Kelulut honey tea, Kelulut honey brownies, Kelulut honey pudding, bee pollen, and Kelulut honey sticks. From an educational tourism perspective, the program has been visited by around 1,400 tourists annually. Notably, the Prolekta Program has received two simple patents: a honey harvesting tool patent and a honey moisture reduction tool patent.

Local Hero and Head of the Trigona Reborn Forest Farmers Group Triyono emphasized that the Prolekta Program prioritizes educational and environmentally responsible tourism. "We are happy to welcome curious and eager visitors to learn about bee colonies. However, to ensure that the bee colonies do not become stressed, we have a system in place to schedule visitor arrivals," he said.

Triyono hopes that the Prolekta Program will continue developing and significantly benefit the community and the surrounding environment. In 2021, this program also contributed to East Kutai Regency's recognition as a Smart Branding from Smart City, an award from Kementerian Komunikasi dan Infomatika Republik Indonesia.

PT Pertamina EP (PEP) Sangatta Field, under the Subholding Upstream Regional 3 managed by PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI), operates in the upstream oil and gas sector by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Through collaboration with SKK Migas, PEP Sangatta Field, along with its subsidiaries and other PHI affiliates, implements 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 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. For more information about PHI, visit https://phi.pertamina.com.