Kutai Kartanegara – PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS) facilitated several young people from Muara Badak Ilir Village, Muara Badak District, Kutai Kartanegara, to participate in Rigger Training and Certification, a job heavily involved in upstream oil and gas operations. Nine selected participants were sent to the Cepu Oil and Gas Human Resources Development Center (PPSDM Migas), Blora, Central Java, for intensive three-day training from June 28-30, 2025. They were accompanied by representatives from the village and sub-district governments. A send-off ceremony took place at the Muara Badak Ilir Village Office on June 27.

The training and certification program provided participants with technical competencies in accordance with the Indonesian National Work Competency Standards (Standar Kompetensi Kerja Nasional Indonesia/SKKNI) to increase job opportunities and prepare them for industry needs. This training covered the technical aspects of rigging, occupational safety, and the preparation of load transfer operation reports.

PHSS Field Manager, Iva Kurnia Mahardi, conveyed the Company's commitment to continuously supporting the development of community independence by enhancing the human resource capacity of local youth around the Company's operational areas. "We believe that education, including skills training, is one of the main foundations for building an independent and broad-minded community, as well as a brighter future for future generations," she said.

According to Iva, PHSS hopes that this training will improve the skills and competitiveness of local youth around the Company's operational areas, enabling them to secure jobs and a brighter future.

The participants then took a certification competency test conducted by the PPSDM Migas Professional Certification Institute (LSP) on July 1–2, 2025. Eight of the nine participants passed and received official certification as Load Tie Operators, a nationally recognized certification relevant to the needs of the oil, gas, and construction support services industry.

The closing ceremony for this program was held at the Muara Badak Ilir Village Office on July 18, 2025, and was attended by officials from the Muara Badak District Government, the Village Government, the Village Consultative Body (BPD), and all training participants. The event also included a comprehensive reflection and evaluation session on the program, as well as a follow-up discussion aimed at improving the implementation of similar training in the future.

One of the program participants, Syair Hairid, expressed his gratitude for participating in the training and certification. "The activity was very beneficial. I have a better understanding of rigger duties and the correct and safe use of rigging equipment," he said. He hopes programs like this will continue so that the local community has the opportunity to gain knowledge and expand employment opportunities. "Thank you to PHSS and all parties who facilitated this activity."

Neneng Sri Yulianti, Head of the Community Development and Empowerment Section (PMD) of Muara Badak District, echoed this sentiment. "We are grateful that PHSS provided access to the rigger training program at PPSDM Cepu. This experience can be a lesson for other villages, demonstrating that we can send local youth to official training institutions to gain skills and certification," he said. He hopes this program can be replicated and expanded in the future.

Separately, the Communication Relations & CID Manager of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia explained that PHI and its subsidiaries, such as PHSS, implement Community Involvement & Development (CID) programs in the fields of economics, education, health, the environment, and disaster management as a strategic step for the company in supporting efforts to achieve Indonesia's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "We develop CID programs based on the results of village social mapping studies to ensure the positive impact and sustainability of these programs," he said.

He stated that this training and certification are expected to be a solution to increase opportunities for local youth, particularly from the Muara Badak Ilir area, to compete in the workforce or build independence to create jobs for themselves. "In this program, we target youth from underprivileged families and continue to strive to ensure the program's positive and sustainable impact on the community," he said.

PHSS hopes to significantly and sustainably empower communities around its operational areas through this training and certification. The program not only emphasizes improving technical skills but also opens up opportunities for social mobility for rural youth to enter the increasingly competitive job market. "We believe that an empowered and independent community will help ensure the sustainability of upstream oil and gas operations and businesses." "As a company for decades to come," he said.

PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) in Zona 9, managing upstream oil and gas operations and businesses in accordance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Sanga Sanga Working Area in East Kalimantan. As a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) contractor for the Indonesian government, represented by SKK Migas, PHSS, along with other PHI subsidiaries and affiliates, implements innovative Social and Environmental 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. More information about PHSS and PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.