Jakarta – PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) has once again awarded full scholarships through the 2025 Sobat Bumi Kalimantan Scholarship (BSBK) Program to 15 of Kalimantan’s top students to pursue undergraduate education. The BSBK program is intended for students from underprivileged families living around the Company’s operating areas in East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. One of the scholarship recipients, Ricky Yusuf Fadilah, is a graduate of Syarif Hidayatullah Vocational High School in Muara Badak, who grew up in the upstream oil and gas operating area of PHI’s subsidiary, PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM).

Ricky, as he is commonly known, did not expect his name to be announced as one of the BSBK recipients this year. For him, the scholarship is not merely financial support, but also a form of trust, an opportunity, and a responsibility to continue growing and adding value to his surrounding environment. He believes that every small step taken today will open the way to a greater future for himself and for the nation.

According to Ricky, the BSBK selection process was a memorable experience that offered valuable benefits from the very beginning. His consistent efforts, accompanied by prayer, enabled him to overcome various limitations. “In addition to gaining new experiences, I had the opportunity to sharpen my public speaking skills and expand my network with fellow students from various universities across Kalimantan,” said Ricky, who pursued an Information Technology specialization during his vocational high school years.

With the BSBK scholarship he has received, Ricky is optimistic about his plans and is on track to graduate on time with a minimum GPA of 3.0 from the Industrial Chemical Engineering Study Program at Samarinda State Polytechnic.

Ricky expressed his deep appreciation for PHI and its subsidiaries' and affiliates' commitment to supporting the educational development of young people in areas surrounding the Company’s operations. BSBK recipients come from several ring-1 operating areas in East Kalimantan, such as Muara Badak, Muara Jawa, Samboja, Marangkayu, Anggana, and Sanga-Sanga. In addition, scholarship recipients also come from Tarakan in North Kalimantan and Murung Pudak in South Kalimantan.

PHI Manager of Communication, Relations & CID, Dony Indrawan, stated the Company’s commitment to continuously implement education-focused CSR programs that support government initiatives to improve the quality of educational infrastructure and facilities, strengthen local institutions, and develop human resource capacity around the Company’s operating areas. “Through BSBK, scholarship recipients receive tuition assistance, living and supporting allowances, as well as capacity-building support and participation in Aksi Sobat Bumi and Desa Energi Berdikari Sobat Bumi (DEB SoBI) to enhance recipients’ awareness of environmental issues,” he explained.

The program is implemented in collaboration with Pertamina Foundation, the implementing partner, and is fully supported by PHI’s subsidiaries, namely PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM), PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS), and PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur (PHKT). The inauguration ceremony of the BSBK 2025 Program was held in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on 17 November 2025. It was attended by representatives of the East Kalimantan Provincial Government and the Kutai Kartanegara Regency Government, the President Director of PHI, the Director of Operations of Pertamina Foundation, as well as the General and Finance Manager of SKK Migas Kalimantan and the Sulawesi Representative Office. The BSBK Program provides comprehensive support for scholarship recipients, including tuition fee coverage and living allowances, as well as capacity-building initiatives focused on environmental issues. BSBK recipients will also take part in Aksi Sobat Bumi and Desa Energi Berdikari Sobat Bumi (DEB SoBI) activities to increase environmental awareness. These activities include mangrove planting, waste collection and processing, and environmental education in schools.

The 2025 BSBK recipients have now begun their studies at several partner higher education institutions in Kalimantan, namely the University of Borneo Tarakan, Mulawarman University, Samarinda State Polytechnic, Kalimantan Institute of Technology, and Lambung Mangkurat.

PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) is part of Pertamina's Upstream Subholding, which manages upstream oil and gas operations and businesses in Regional 3, Kalimantan, covering Zona 8, 9, and 10, in accordance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles to achieve its vision of becoming a world-class oil and gas company. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, in collaboration with SKK Migas, PHI implements innovative Corporate Social Responsibility programs in the areas of economy, education, health, environment, infrastructure, and disaster response. These initiatives support the sustainability of national oil and gas production and realize #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. For further information about PHI, please visit https://phi.pertamina.com.