Jakarta– PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) and the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) have renewed their partnership in orangutan conservation efforts in East Kalimantan. This collaboration includes a donation for the rehabilitation program of three individual orangutans for the 2024-2025 period.

PHI has supported orangutan conservation since 2021 through a rehabilitation program that has involved three releasable and three unreleaseable orangutans since 2023 at the Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Center in Samboja District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan.

Senior HSSE Manager at PHI, Benyamin Argubie, stated that this partnership with BOSF aligns with the company's commitment to balancing oil and gas production activities with fulfilling its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). "Additionally, orangutan conservation supports our efforts to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, conserve the environment, and align with Pertamina's energy transition and Net Zero Emission goals by 2060," Benyamin explained.

Benyamin added that this collaboration supports the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's/ Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan (KLHK) orangutan and habitat conservation programs and contributes to promoting and campaigning for restoration and environmental activities in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"This program supports SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, and SDG 13, which addresses climate change by preserving forest ecosystems," Benyamin said.

Dr. Jamartin Sihite, Chairman of BOSF, emphasized that orangutan conservation requires collaboration from all parties to ensure effective protection efforts.

He explained that orangutans are crucial in regenerating forests and maintaining forest ecosystems. "Orangutans are vital in helping to regenerate forests and balance the needs of other species in the forest, including human needs for fresh air, clean water, and soil protection," said Dr. Jamartin.

Dr. Jamartin further noted that BOSF's rehabilitation program adheres to national guidelines and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines. It aims to equip orangutans with survival skills in the "Forest School."

"Orangutans are taught survival skills such as foraging, building nests, climbing trees, and recognizing natural predators. This training prepares them for eventual reintroduction into the wild," he added. The hope is that with support and donations for rehabilitation activities, such as food provision, medical care, and survival skills training, these orangutans will eventually be reintroduced to their natural habitats.

PHI's Environment Manager, Kemas Adrian, noted that PHI has contributed to rehabilitating both unreleasable and releasable orangutans. "We hope these efforts will have a sustainable positive impact on the environment and the broader community," he concluded.

PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) is part of Pertamina's Upstream Subholding, managing upstream oil and gas operations in Regional 3 Kalimantan according to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, with a vision of becoming a world-class oil and gas company. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates working with SKK Migas, PHI implements innovative Social and Environmental Responsibility programs in the areas of Economy, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, and Disaster Response to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realize #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. More information about PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.