Balikpapan—To commemorate World Environment Day (WED) 2024, PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) held two main activities: tree planting and an urban farming exploration and Seminar. The event's theme aligns with this year's international WED theme, "Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience," and the national theme, "Resolving the Climate Crisis with Innovation and Justice Principles."

Acting General Manager Agung Dwi Rakhmadi officially opened the WED 2024 commemoration at PHM. Agung emphasized that PHM is always committed to implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in all company operations and oil and gas business activities to produce sustainable energy for Indonesia.

Planting 540 tree seedlings was carried out simultaneously at the Balikpapan Base Office (BBO) and PHM's upstream oil and gas operation sites on June 5, 2024. "This planting activity is very much in line with the international WED 2024 theme to support land restoration as the main pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which is very important to achieve sustainable development goals," said Agung.

The tree seedlings planted at the BBO office included Ihau (Dimocarpus longan var.), Red Meranti (Shorea balangeran), Kapur (Dryobalanops fusca), and Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis). In the field, Red Meranti (Shorea balangeran) seedlings were planted at the Senipah Peciko and South Mahakam (SPS) sites, while Mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata) seedlings were planted at the Handil Processing Area (HCA), Central Processing Unit (CPU), South Processing Unit (SPU), and North Processing Unit (NPU) sites.

PHM HSSE Operations Manager Yudi Pantja Putera said that the company's WED 2024 commemoration was a tangible environmental preservation action. "PHM continues to innovate and take initiatives, both for the sustainability of oil and gas operations in the Mahakam Work Area and the preservation of the surrounding environment," said Yudi.

The Urban Farming Exploration and Seminar marked the culmination of the WED 2024 series of activities at the Balikpapan Botanical Garden (KRB) on June 13, 2024. The Urban Farming Seminar featured speakers from the Yayasan Peduli Balikpapan.

This event was also used to promote the cooperation between PHM and KRB regarding biodiversity conservation and the release of birds, namely three Green Pigeons, three Common Mynas, five Zebra Doves, and five Red-whiskered Bulbuls, by PHM management.

PHM General Manager Setyo Sapto Edi hoped that the Urban Farming Exploration and Seminar activities would inspire all parties to start land restoration from their own homes using appropriate methods. "Through this event, we aim to introduce the conservation sites for flora and fauna at the Balikpapan Botanical Garden (KRB), the result of cooperation between KRB and subsidiaries under PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia, namely PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam, PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga, and PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur, over the past three years through the Orchidarium themed park," concluded Setyo.

The global theme "Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience" was chosen because this year marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, which continuously addresses land degradation due to climate variations and human activities.

In this WED celebration, PHM also held other activities involving all PHM employees, including a Crossword Puzzle Quiz to enhance and raise employees' environmental awareness and a Water and Energy Saving Sticker Design Contest to boost creativity.

PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) that manages upstream oil and gas operations and business by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Mahakam Work Area in East Kalimantan. Through collaboration with SKK Migas, PHM, PHI subsidiaries, and affiliates, continue to innovate and apply technology to produce safe, efficient, reliable, compliant, and environmentally friendly energy to realize #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. For more information about PHI, visit https://phi.pertamina.com.