Pertamina Plaju Refinery Supports Sumatra Elephant Preservation

PALEMBANG - PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional through Pertamina Plaju Refinery supports the preservation of animals protected by the state. This support is a synergy between the Pertamina Plaju Refinery and the South Sumatra Conservation of Natural Resources (BKSDA) since November 2018. The collaboration is on strengthening functions in conserving the Sumatran elephant (Elephas Maximus Sumatranus) in Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra.

Area Manager of Communication, Relations, and CSR of Pertamina Plaju Refinery, Siti Rachmi Indahsari said Pertamina would continue to support biodiversity conservation, as stated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to stop the loss of biodiversity. Since Pertamina Plaju refinery supported the program, 30 Sumatran elephants have been conserved in 2019 and increased to 31 in semester 1 of 2021.

"With this support, Pertamina Plaju Refinery focuses on rapid and significant actions to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, conserve biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of endangered species," said Rachmi.

In addition, the Pertamina Plaju Refinery has supported the Activity Performance Indicators (IKK) of the South Sumatra BKSDA, the IKK of the Directorate of Conservation Areas, the IKK for Utilization of Conservation Forest Environmental Services and the Directorate for Biodiversity Conservation, and the Work Plan of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

The scope of cooperation between Pertamina Plaju Refinery and South Sumatra BKSDA in Elephants Training Center (PLG) Line 21 Padang Sugihan Wildlife Sanctuary, among others, is optimizing the management and health maintenance of Sumatran Elephants, developing facilities and infrastructure for the management of PLG Line 21 Padang Sugihan Wildlife Sanctuary covering an area of 7,349.60 hectares located in Banyuasin Regency, and increasing the capacity of the PLG Line 21 Padang Sugihan Wildlife Sanctuary manager.

In 2021, Pertamina Plaju Refinery support for the management of PLG line 21 has reached Rp297,295,000 which is intended to increase the mahout capacity of Padang Sugihan line 21 at the Elephant Responses Unit, develop facilities and infrastructure for the management of PLG line 21, and provide elephant supplements. It was symbolically handed over in the Consolidation and Synchronization of Programs, Activities, and Budget of the South Sumatra BKSDA with partners, Thursday, January 27, 2022, in Palembang.

The Head of the Conservation Section for Region III of the South Sumatra BKSDA, Aziz Abdul Latif, appreciated the support from Pertamina Plaju Refinery for BKSDA's to conserve the Sumatran Elephant.

He explained that the South Sumatra BKSDA together with the Pertamina Plaju Refinery had prepared a grand design and master plan for elephant conservation on Line 21 as well as the layout of the building and its supporting facilities. "Now it has been completed, and will be used as the basis for the next development," said Aziz.

He hopes that the cooperation with the Pertamina Plaju refinery will last for the preservation of the Sumatran elephant's habitat. *SHR&P PLAJU