Sepatin, East Kalimantan – PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) received an academic visit from a delegation of Leiden University, the Netherlands, together with Mulawarman University/Universitas Mulawarman (Unmul) to the South Processing Unit (SPU) Field and the Pertamina Forest Environmental Empowerment Program (Tunu Inland) site in Sepatin Village, East Kalimantan, on Sunday (8/2/2026). The academic visit was led by Professor Steffen Nijhuis, who brought a number of postgraduate students from Leiden University, accompanied by Professor Irawan Wijaya and Unmul students.

The visit was part of the academic activities and field study of the LDE–UNMUL Thesis Lab Program themed “Sustainable Urbanism in East Kalimantan”. The program involves the Leiden–Delft–Erasmus (LDE) Universities consortium together with Unmul, as an effort to strengthen international research collaboration related to sustainable development in East Kalimantan. During the visit, the participants received an overview of PHM and engaged in interactive discussions on sustainable upstream oil and gas operations management, occupational safety practices, and the Company’s environmental management strategies.

In addition to conducting a site tour of the processing area at SPU, the delegation also directly observed the Pertamina Forest Environmental Empowerment Program (Tunu Inland) and the mangrove area in Sepatin Village. Through this field visit, participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the implementation of environmental conservation and community empowerment programs carried out by the Company around its operational areas. “We greatly appreciate this opportunity to be directly involved and exchange knowledge, ideas, and perspectives with one another. Moments like this form the foundation for open dialogue and encourage impactful collaboration between universities and industry to support the realization of sustainability,” said Steffen Nijhuis.

SPU Site Manager Billy Sunyoto stated that this visit marked an important momentum to strengthen the synergy between academia and the energy industry, particularly in supporting upstream oil and gas operational practices that are aligned with sustainability principles and environmental responsibility. “PHM does not only focus on operational success, but also on how we create sustainable value for the environment and society. We hope this interaction becomes a two-way learning space, where we can gain perspectives from the academic world,” he explained.

This academic visit was designed as a joint learning forum and a two-way dialogue to enrich both academic and practical perspectives. Participants obtained first-hand insights into the integration of upstream oil and gas industrial activities, environmental conservation, and the Company’s social contributions in supporting sustainable development in East Kalimantan. “Through this collaboration, PHM reaffirms its commitment to continuously open strategic partnership opportunities with educational institutions, both national and international, as part of efforts to promote innovation, knowledge exchange, and best practices in responsible energy management,” he concluded.

PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) that manages upstream oil and gas operations and businesses in accordance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Mahakam Working Area in East Kalimantan. As a Production Sharing Contract Contractor for the Indonesian government, represented by SKK Migas, PHM, along with its subsidiaries and affiliates, PHI also implements innovative Corporate Social Responsibility programs in the areas of Economics, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, and Disaster Response to support sustainable community empowerment and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. For further information about PHM and PHI, please visit https://phi.pertamina.com.