Pertamina continues to accelerate emissions reduction and the transition to village-based clean energy.

Through the Energy Independent Village (DEB) program, Pertamina has successfully developed the energy and economic self-reliance of village communities by way of clean and renewable energy sources.

Pertamina's clean energy initiatives had reached 63 villages across Indonesia as of October 2023. By utilizing solar, water, wind and biogas energy sources, Pertamina's DEB program has managed to significantly reduce carbon emissions by 565,978 tons annually.

Pertamina vice president for corporate communications Fadjar Djoko Santoso said Pertamina remained committed to accelerating the use of renewable energy throughout the country in support of the government's target of achieving net-zero emission (NZE) by 2060.

"DEB is a concrete corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSER) action by Pertamina to accelerate the public’s energy transition. This program has gained international appreciation because it not only reduces emissions, but also stimulates the village economy," Fadjar said.

Fadjar added that Pertamina's goal for 2023 was to establish 66 Energy Self-Reliant Villages across Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Papua. Pertamina has most recently established Energy Self-Reliant Villages at five locations: Sruni village in Central Java, Cindakko hamlet in South Sulawesi, Prangkat Baru village and Saliki village in East Kalimantan, as well as East Bunyu village in North Kalimantan.

"Pertamina has built clean energy installations based on solar power plants [SPPs] and biogas power plants in these five villages, which produce a total of 31,070 Watt-peak [Wp] of energy," Fadjar added.

Fadjar also emphasized that the installations of clean energy were tailored to the specific needs of each village with the goal of improving the local economy. For instance, Cindakko hamlet is located at an altitude of 600-800 meters above sea level. That resulted in it lacking electricity resources and gas supply. The hamlet uses renewables to provide electricity for small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) honey and forestry food products.

Meanwhile, clean energy is used to support agricultural and livestock activities in Bunyu Timur village and Prangkat Baru village. In Saliki village, renewables can fulfill the local community's need for water as they cannot access the local Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM).

In Sruni village, the local community uses facilities and infrastructure for utilizing renewables to distribute biogas from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to the houses of residents.

Pertamina's DEB program has been in operation since 2019, and it has produced the following benefits: 210,950 Wp of SPP energy, 605,000 m3/year of biogas and methane gas energy, 8,000 watt of micro-hydro energy, 6,500 liters of biodiesel energy per year and 16,500 Wp of hybrid energy.

The Energy Self-Reliant Villages also play a role in meeting the general public’s energy needs and have an economic impact on 3,201 households, with a total multiplier effect of Rp 1.8 billion per year.

"Pertamina's DEB Program aligns with SDG [Sustainable Development Goal] 7 on clean and affordable energy, SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, as well as SDG 13 on climate action," Fadjar noted.

As a leading company in the energy transition, Pertamina is committed to supporting Indonesia’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2060 by continuing to promote programs that directly impact the achievement of the SDGs. All these efforts are in line with the implementation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles across all of Pertamina's business lines and operations.

Popular

Power begins to return after outage in Indonesia's Bali island

North Sumatra to investigate hot mudflow eruptions in Mandailing Natal

'Devastated' Prince Harry says no UK return but seeks reconciliation