Target Reducing Carbon Emissions Through Pertamina's Forests
Bontang, December 16, 2022 - PT Pertamina (Persero) continues to realize its commitment to reducing carbon emissions through the Pertamina Forest program. Pertamina Forest is Pertamina's social and environmental responsibility program (TJSL) to conserve and reforest forests by planting mangrove trees and land. More than 4 million plants such as mangroves, orchids, and other land trees have benefited 4,783 people and contributed to reducing emissions.
On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, Pertamina's concrete steps in reducing carbon emissions were carried out through the Pertamina Badak LNG Forest inauguration. The inauguration was carried out by the Mayor of Bontang, Basri Rase; Director of Human Resources of PT Pertamina (Persero), Erry Sugiharto; VP of CSR of PT Pertamina (Persero), Fajriyah Usman; President Director & CEO of Badak LNG, Gema Iriandus Pahalawan; and President Director of Pertamina Foundation, Agus Mashud S. Asngari. The Pertamina Badak LNG Forest is the third inauguration after the Pertamina UGM Forest and Pertamina Mahakam Forest.
"We welcome Badak LNG's initiative and collaboration as a subsidiary of Sub holding Upstream Pertamina with PT Pertamina (Persero)'s CSR with Mulawarman University through Pertamina Badak LNG Forest. There is absolutely no doubt about this project, and we are ready to fully support it,” said the Mayor Bontang, Basri Rase.
On a 40-hectare land in the Badak LNG operating area in Bontang city, 400,000 mangrove seedlings of the Avicennia, Rhizophora, and Sonneratia species will be planted. As of December 14, 53% or 215,000 seedlings had been planted in a 21.5 hectares area.
According to the Director of HR of Pertamina, Erry Sugiharto, planting mangroves through Pertamina Forest in the Badak LNG operational area is the company's commitment to the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects implementation in the company and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement on point 14, namely ecosystem ocean.
"Today we see the inauguration of a forest in collaboration between Pertamina and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, community groups, and the Mulawarman university over the PT Badak NGL refinery area of 2000 hectares where in 2022, it will start with the reforestation of 40 hectares mangroves. It will produce an extraordinary potential for mangrove areas and are one of Pertamina's front guards in managing climate change, contributing to the SDGs achievement on point 14 related to marine ecosystems, and also a commitment to implementing ESG at Pertamina," said the Director of HR of Pertamina, Erry Sugiharto.
Erry also said that the Pertamina Badak LNG Forest program was one of the concrete steps to control Green House Gas (GHG) emissions with a target of up to 41 percent in 2030 and a New Renewable Energy mix target of reaching 23 percent in 2025.
"Therefore, Pertamina is very serious about carrying out energy transformation and transition initiatives to increase the Renewable Energy mix and carry out various operational improvements, including Social & Environmental Responsibility (TJSL). These are the company's priorities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals that prioritize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects, and the Blue Carbon Initiative as part of Pertamina's 16 Priority ESG Initiatives," added Erry.
On this occasion, President Director & Chief Executive Officer of PT Badak NGL, Gema Iriandus Pahalawan, said that the Pertamina Badak LNG Forest inauguration follows PT Badak LNG's commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 42,021 Tons of CO2e in 2022.
"We hope that this will not only be a ceremonial activity, but there will be ongoing efforts to preserve forests and other areas for the greening process from the blue carbon initiative," said Gema.**