Accelerating 52 Desa Energi, Pertamina Advances ESG to Empower Communities

August 4, 2023 – PT Pertamina (Persero) continues to increase the number of villages benefiting from the Desa Energi Berdikari (Independent Energy Village) Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) program. As of the end of July 2023, there are 52 Desa Energi Berdikari across Indonesia.

The latest initiative by Pertamina involves Renewable Energy installation in the form of Solar Power Plants with a total capacity of 33,250 watts peak (WP) at five locations: Desa Kalijaran in Cilacap, Desa Wisata Danau Shuji in Muara Enim, Desa Tanjung Karang in Aceh Tamiang, Desa Kampung Apar in Pariaman, and Desa Pulau Semambu in Ogan Ilir. Beyond infrastructure development, the Desa Energi Berdikari program aims to empower communities, facilitating an even energy transition to remote villages by utilizing local energy resources.

Vice President of Corporate Communication of Pertamina, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, stated that the Desa Energi Berdikari program provides access to renewable energy as a solution to the community’s energy needs, paving the way for energy and economic self-sufficiency.

"By providing access to renewable energy for communities, Pertamina can promote and facilitate the experience of an energy transition, enabling rural communities to understand energy’s importance in driving the economy," explained Fadjar.

Furthermore, Fadjar elaborated that the renewable energy generated from sunlight in these five villages is primarily used to support agricultural and plantation activities. For example, the program implemented in Desa Kalijaran, Cilacap Regency, utilized renewable energy for irrigation purposes, addressing water scarcity issues during dry seasons. It aligns with the utilization in Desa Pulau Semambu, Ogan Ilir Regency, where a larger electricity source is required for water pumps used by farmers for cultivation.

Meanwhile, in Desa Wisata Danau Shuji, Muara Enim Regency, and Desa Kampung Apar, Pariaman renewable energy is employed to power various activities such as hydroponics, herbal processing, and organic farming. In Desa Tanjung Karang, Aceh Tamiang Regency, it is utilized as a clean alternative energy source in the "Bengkel Doorsmeer Difabel" program.

The Desa Energi Berdikari program has been in effect since 2019. From an environmental perspective, it has yielded benefits such as generating 143,250 WP of Solar Power Plant energy, 605,000 cubic meters per year of Methane Gas & Biogas, 16,500 WP of Hybrid Solar and Wind energy, 8,000 watts of micro-hydro energy, and 6,500 liters per year of biodiesel, while reducing emission impacts by 565,896 tons of CO2eq per year. Moreover, the Desa Energi Berdikari initiative contributes to fulfilling the communities’ energy needs and an economic impact on 3,061 households, with a total multiplier effect resulting in an annual benefit of 1.8 billion.

Through the Desa Energi Berdikari program, Pertamina hopes that communities can develop their economic potential through various capacity-building training, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) development, and education on renewable energy facilities’ utilization and maintenance.

Pertamina's Desa Energi Berdikari program aligns with SDG Goal 7, clean and affordable energy; Goal 8, decent work and economic growth; and Goal 13, climate action, as well as the Government's target to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2060.

"We believe that clean and accessible energy will pave the way for economic development and community empowerment towards sustainable self-reliance," concluded Fadjar.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations.**