Balikpapan— PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates under Subholding Upstream Regional 3, planted 118,463 trees in 2024. This initiative reflects the company's commitment to climate change mitigation through forest and coastal ecosystem conservation, aligning with Pertamina's sustainability policies and supporting the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2060.

Manager of Communication Relations & CID at PHI, Dony Indrawan, explained that the tree-planting initiative is part of the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. "This activity is designed to support community empowerment while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), Goal 13 (Climate Action), and Goal 15 (Life on Land)," he said.

According to Dony, the company has planted various trees, including mangroves, fruit trees, and endemic species from Kalimantan, to promote environmental conservation and strengthen the local economy.

PHI actively engages stakeholders in tree planting and maintenance efforts to maximize their impact. "We believe collaboration between the company, the government, and the community can drive widespread positive change," he added.

Manager of Environment at PHI, Kemas Adrian, highlighted the significance of planting mangroves, which serve as natural coastal protection and help sustain marine ecosystems. "Mangroves play a crucial role in mitigating climate change and preserving the environment. We will continue to monitor the development of these mangrove forests to establish them as a model for sustainable practices that can be replicated elsewhere," he stated.

One of the largest planting sites is at Lamaru Beach, Balikpapan, where PHI planted 10,000 mangrove trees in late October. This initiative is part of the company's commitment to coastal ecosystem conservation and climate change mitigation. "Balikpapan has an extensive coastline that is highly sensitive to environmental changes. Planting mangroves is an essential step in preserving biodiversity and protecting the livelihoods of local communities. Mangrove forests also enhance marine ecosystems by providing habitats for crabs, fish, and shrimp, which serve as key sources of income for many coastal residents," Kemas explained.

Thriving mangrove forests play a vital role in maintaining coastal ecosystem balance. In addition to preventing coastal erosion and protecting against tsunamis, mangroves significantly contribute to carbon sequestration, making them a natural solution for climate change mitigation.

Kemas further emphasized that planting 10,000 mangrove trees is expected to have a long-term positive impact on the Lamaru Beach area and its surroundings. A well-maintained mangrove forest has the potential to become an educational and ecotourism destination. In collaboration with local authorities, PHI will continue to monitor the progress of mangrove forests and use it as a model for sustainable practices in other locations. The 10,000 mangrove trees planted at Lamaru Beach, Balikpapan, are estimated to absorb approximately 13.5 tons of CO2 equivalent. "Lamaru Beach is now not only a testament to real environmental conservation efforts but also a symbol of hope for a greener and more sustainable future," he concluded.

Beyond Kalimantan, in celebration of World Environment Day 2024, PHI also initiated the planting of 500 Rhizophora mangrove seedlings at the Mangrove Ecotourism Park in Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), Jakarta. This initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Lindungi Hutan Foundation, the Jakarta Provincial Parks and Urban Forest Agency, and the Flora Mangrove Farmers Group. These mangrove seedlings are expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 36 kg of CO2 equivalent.

In 2024, the PHI Group successfully nominated nine candidates for the PROPER Gold Award, a corporate environmental performance assessment program initiated by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK). Additionally, PHI, through its subsidiaries and affiliates in Zona 9 of Pertamina's Subholding Upstream—namely PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS) and PT Pertamina EP (PEP) Tanjung, Sangatta, and Sangasanga Field—won a total of seven awards at the Indonesia Social Responsibility Award (ISRA) 2024. Meanwhile, PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) achieved outstanding recognition at the Indonesia Corporate Sustainability Award 2024 (ICSA 2024), securing a Gold ranking in the Best Practice in Circular Economy Project category.

PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) is part of Pertamina's Upstream Subholding, managing upstream oil and gas operations in Regional 3 Kalimantan based on 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 carries out innovative Social and Environmental Responsibility programs in the fields of Economy, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, and Disaster Response to support the achievement of SDGs and realize #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. Further information about PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.