COP26 was held by The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which essentially deals with the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation, and finance. The event can also be seen as a continuation of the Paris Agreement meeting in 2015, as it was similarly attended by a total of 100 world leaders, all committed to solving the climate crisis and to determine their steps in setting decarbonization targets.

Febriani Eddy, CEO of PT Vale Indonesia Tbk also lend his voice at the Business Leadership forum at COP26. The event had a theme of "Supporting Ambitious Target Achievement on GHG Emission Reduction."

"I am delighted to be here, in Glasgow, to attend UNFCC COP-26, support the Indonesia Pavilion and share joint efforts towards a green economy from a business perspective. Climate change is real and each of us can contribute to creating a greener future. Together," said Febriani.

During her speech, she also stated the importance of working together. She said, “Climate change is everyone’s problem, we must work together. It is time to take action together! PT Vale will invest to switch our fuel source to a lower carbon option and we will not count on carbon offset to reach our 2030 goal to reduce 30% of our GHG emission. In parallel we will be aggressively looking for ways to get to net zero by 2050.”

As head of a mining company, Febriani believes the importance of transformation in the industry to build trust, grow stronger, and achieve sustainable results. He revealed, “I want to use this moment to reaffirm Vale's commitment to being a mining industry, driven by sustainability and working towards achieving its ambitious Net Zero Emissions target by 2050.”

Since the start of the company five decades ago, PT Vale Indonesia Tbk has supported the improvement of New and Renewable Energy (EBT) through sustainable mining practices. The belief is still upheld today, as the company implemented carbon emission reductions in order to contribute to the fight climate change.

The company has done so by increasing the use of EBT by building and utilizing three Hydro-electric Power Plants (PLTA) with a capacity of 365 Megawatt (MW) each. The plants contribute to 36 percent of the energy needed by the company in order to operate, however also lessen the carbon dioxide emission by more than a million ton per year.

Febriani reiterated their commitment and said, “The Company made a very ambitious public commitment to reduce carbon emissions associated with mining, processing, and ultimately, the use of our products. Our goal is to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030 and become net zero emissions by 2050. This is in line with the Paris Agreement that Vale signed in 2019.”

In order to achieve zero emission by 2050, the factory owned by PT Vale Indonesia Tbk in Sorowako, South Sulawesi, uses hydropower via electric boiler technology and B30 diesel to resume operations. Moreover, they are constructing another factory in Bahodopi, Central Sulawesi, which will solely run on PLTG or natural gas energy.

The two factories will be nickel plants with the lowest carbon emission per tonne of nickel. Following later on the Pomalaa project, in Southeast Sulawesi, will also implement low-carbon emissions operations.

Febriani said that while the company is very focused on the nickel mining and processing sector, environmentally-friendly operations are a major concern. In line with their promise at the Paris Agreement in 2015, the company continues to carry out post-mining reclamation and nurseries.

On an area of 2.5 hectares in Sorowako, South Sulawesi, PT Vale Indonesia Tbk oversees the production of 700,000 seedlings per year to rehabilitate 100 hectares of post-mining area. as of September 2021, data shows that the total land that has been reclaimed has reached 3,301 hectares.

The Company also implemented Watershed Rehabilitation (DAS), which is a program for planting timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) outside the PT Vale Contract of Work area. The aim is to restore, maintain and improve watershed functions so that their carrying capacity, productivity and role in supporting life support systems are maintained.

Currently, the program covers 13 regencies and 51 villages with an area of ​​10,000 hectares throughout 1,996 hectares in Luwu and North Luwu, 1,490 hectares in East Luwu, 1,735 hectares in Bone, 1,190 hectares in Tana Toraja, and 979 hectares in North Toraja, Enrekang and Pinrang. Additionally, it also covers 1,135 hectares in Soppeng and Gowa, and 1,475 hectares in Barru, Maros, Gowa and Takalar.

“Until now our rehabilitation practices are still recognized as among the best in Indonesia. For this reason, it is hoped that there will be more mining companies that can carry out sustainable mining practices as applied at PT Vale Indonesia Tbk," Febriani concluded.

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