Pertamina's Independent Energy Village, Encourages Boyolali Farmers to Develop Renewable Energy
Boyolali, August 11, 2022 – Pertamina continues to encourage new renewable energy innovations through the Independent Energy Village Program to provide clean and environmentally friendly energy.
This program trains the JSN Cengkir Gading Livestock Farmers Group in Padokan Hamlet, Sawahan Village, Ngemplak, Boyolali Regency to process cow dung into biogas later used as cooking fuel. The training, held on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, is part of Pertamina's efforts to improve the community's economy while at the same time encouraging village energy independence based on environmentally friendly energy.
Area Manager of Communication, Relations, & CSR for the Central Java Region of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, Brasto Galih Nugroho, said that this program is a form of concern for the community and the environment around Pertamina's operational locations, especially the Adi Sumarmo Aircraft Filling Depot (DPPU), located in Boyolali Regency.
"As a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), we want to show concern for the communities around our operational locations so that they can improve their living standard and economy, one of which is the livestock farmer groups that we foster through the CSR program," he said.
Brasto explained that Pertamina and the livestock group had developed a new renewable energy innovation by utilizing cow dung as biogas for cooking fuel.
“Previously, they only operated biogas fuel at livestock locations. However, currently, we provide training on how the biogas produced can be put into a container to be used in their respective homes for cooking, namely by using unused truck tires," he said.
In addition to having an impact on improving environmental quality, according to Brasto, biogas fuel utilization is also able to provide an economic impact on the community.
"In addition to fuel that is more environmentally friendly, it also creates cost savings for household needs," he conveyed.
Suranto, as the Head of the JSN Cengkir Gading Farmers Group, explained that in the past year, his group was able to get savings from biogas utilization for livestock operational needs of at least IDR 144 thousand every month.
"In the future, at least 42 members of our group will start using this biogas for our respective household's needs," he explained.
He also expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by Pertamina in developing biogas innovation on his farm.
"We are grateful to Pertamina for the training and assistance we received. With this, we can receive additional income through fuel savings for livestock operations and our respective households," said Suranto.
Brasto added that the efforts carried out in this program to deliver clean energy and sustainably improve the community's economy are the implementation of Pertamina's ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) commitment manifestation.
"In addition, this program also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially at point 7 (Clean and Affordable Energy), point 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth, point 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), point 11 (Sustainable Cities and Settlements), point 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production, and point 13 (Climate Change Management)," he concluded.