Tanjung—PT Pertamina EP (PEP) Tanjung Field has successfully supported Jirak Village's economic potential through its flagship CSR program, Kuas Jirak, which stands for Jirak Village Business Group. This program focuses on empowering women and improving community welfare by developing fish processing products and using used cooking oil to make soap.

The initiative arose from socio-economic issues in Jirak Village, the largest freshwater fish producer in Tabalong Regency, South Kalimantan. Challenges include insufficient fish catch revenue, low productivity among housewives, and high poverty rates.

PEP Tanjung Field felt compelled to actively participate in helping develop local potential. According to Kurniawan Triyo Widodo, the company's Field Manager, the company's CSR program aims to create sustainable impacts for the community. "We integrate social and environmental innovations into our CSR programs to ensure lasting benefits for the community. The Kuas Jirak program is a tangible expression of our commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles."

With the Kuas Jirak program, PT Pertamina EP Tanjung Field hopes to continue making a positive impact on the Jirak community, empower women, improve local economic welfare, and promote sustainability through integrated social and environmental innovations.

In 2022, PEP Tanjung Field initiated the establishment of the Barokah UMKM Group, which produces fish floss. The following year, the program expanded by increasing member capacity, patenting fish-draining equipment, diversifying product offerings, and entering the digital market. As it moves into 2024, the program will introduce processed product diversification, such as fish crackers and bone crackers, and form Kelompok Sukses Bersama Desa Jirak (Sukma Saji). In the future, the program aims for independence through synergy with fishing groups and strengthening the market through e-commerce.

In 2024, the program will focus on forming new groups, product diversification, and supporting a circular economy by producing fish floss, albumin, and other derivative products. The program collaborates with fishing groups through the "Saraba Iwak" initiative, which synergizes with the Barokah Group. They train members in administration, online sales, and improving environmental management skills using energy-efficient spinner technology. This is expected to support the Zero Waste Production target in processing Kuas Jirak products.

Elis Fauziyah, Head of Communication Relations & CID Zona 9, explained that the program has successfully reduced used cooking oil waste by up to 500 ml per month, processed into soap, and saved 445.95 kWh of electricity annually. "This program has also empowered 25 women in fish processing, providing them with additional skills and contributing to Jirak Village being designated as a Haruan Village by the Tabalong Regency Government in 2022," said Elis.

Sri Hartini, the Chairperson of the Barokah Group, shared that PEP Tanjung Field has provided valuable training for her group. "We received intensive training in fish floss processing and product marketing. A new group, Sukma Saji, was also formed this year, focusing on snack products like fish dumplings and bone crackers," she said.

Pansyah, the Head of Jirak Village, appreciated PEP Tanjung Field's success in empowering the Jirak community. He hopes the program continues to grow by forming new groups that produce other innovative products.

PT Pertamina EP (PEP) Tanjung Field, under the Subholding Upstream Regional 3 led by PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI), conducts upstream oil and gas operations and business by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. In collaboration with SKK Migas, PEP Tanjung 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 achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. For more information about PHI, visit https://phi.pertamina.com.