Jakarta – The Sobat Bumi Kalimantan Scholarship Program/Program Beasiswa Sobat Bumi Kalimantan (BSBK) of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia supports the journey of 15 outstanding young students from Kalimantan as they pursue their dreams of a better future. The scholarship recipients have now begun their first semester of undergraduate studies at the University of Borneo Tarakan, Mulawarman University, Samarinda State Polytechnic, Kalimantan Institute of Technology, and Lambung Mangkurat University. One of the recipients, Muhammad Fery Restiawan Ramadhani, acknowledged the benefits of the scholarship he received in November 2025, which helped ease his struggle to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Government Studies at Lambung Mangkurat University, South Kalimantan.

Fery explained that his journey as a migrant student has confronted him with various challenges that demand resilience. Through this process, he has learned the meaning of independence and responsibility. “There are certainly many difficulties in pursuing higher education, from boarding costs and daily meals to transportation expenses to and from campus. However, I consider all of that as part of life’s learning process,” said the graduate of SMKN 1 Tanjung, located approximately four kilometers from the upstream oil and gas operation facilities managed by PHI’s affiliate, Pertamina EP Tanjung Field.

According to Fery, the support of his family and friends has been his primary foundation. His parents’ message was simple yet deeply ingrained: “Think positively, make room for sincerity, and never forget to be grateful.” This advice became Fery’s guiding principle, including during each stage of the PHI BSBK selection process. “The selection was not merely an examination, but a lesson in perseverance and gratitude,” he said. Despite facing conditions that were not always easy, Fery’s spirit never faded. He believes that every struggle will eventually find its way, and that when one door closes, God will open another. “Even if I had not passed the scholarship selection, I had prepared plans to seek other opportunities, and was even ready to work so as not to burden my parents,” he added.

Now, after officially becoming a BSBK recipient, Fery is determined to make the most of this opportunity. “I want to complete my education, broaden my knowledge, and one day provide real benefits to the community,” he expressed. Fery believes that the BSBK not only helps him economically but also serves as a bridge toward a better future for himself and for others. “I hope that in the future, scholarship recipients can be directly involved in the community through various PHI programs. Let us stay connected and inspire one another,” he concluded.

PHI Manager Communication Relations & CID, Dony Indrawan, explained that the BSBK Program is implemented through collaboration between PHI and Pertamina Foundation as the implementing partner, with full support from PHI’s subsidiaries, namely PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM), PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS), and PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur (PHKT). “In 2025, we provided full scholarships to 15 recipients from several ring one areas of the company’s operations,” Dony explained. The BSBK recipients come from various ring one operational areas in East Kalimantan, such as Muara Badak, Muara Jawa, Samboja, Marangkayu, Anggana, and Sanga-Sanga. In addition, recipients also come from Tarakan in North Kalimantan and Murung Pudak in South Kalimantan.

According to Dony, this year’s selection process, which began in July and concluded with the announcement in October 2025, was a journey filled with inspiration and hope. “We witnessed so many stories of struggle, learning spirit, and big dreams from the participants,” Dony said. The inauguration ceremony was held in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on 17 November 2025, and was attended by the Acting Head of the East Kalimantan Provincial Office of Education and Culture Armin, representing the Governor of East Kalimantan, Assistant II for Economic and Development Affairs of Kutai Kartanegara Regency Ahyani Fadianur Diani, President Director of PHI Sunaryanto, Director of Operations of Pertamina Foundation Gusman Adiwardhana, General and Finance Manager of SKK Migas Kalimantan and Sulawesi Representative Lely M.W. Sondakh, as well as the management of SKK Migas Kalimantan–Sulawesi Representative and PHI.

The BSBK Program provides comprehensive support to its recipients, including tuition funding and living allowances, as well as capacity development focused on environmental issues. Fery, together with 14 other outstanding students from Kalimantan, will also participate in the Aksi Sobat Bumi and Desa Energi Berdikari Sobat Bumi (DEB SoBI) activities, which aim to enhance environmental awareness. “At PHI, we believe that education is one of the main foundations for building an independent and broad-minded society, as well as a better future for the next generation,” he concluded.

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.