The workers of Refinery Unit VI in Pertamina Balongan, Indramayu, West Java, beamed with enthusiasm when I told them that I wanted to capture a story on energy production for the country. I was among eight photojournalists invited by state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina to work on a photo collaboration project to mark the company’s 60th anniversary.

These workers make up the human story behind the refinery’s busy operations. They take pride in what they do to provide energy for the country, and carry out their daily duties with professionalism. From regular staff members and safety supervisors to researchers and health officers, every worker believes in the importance of their tasks. They know that no part is too small to contribute to the entire process of producing energy.

At the age of 60, Pertamina still faces a number of challenges, but the strong dedication of its workers gives us hope that the country will have a future in terms of energy resilience amid the skyrocketing prices of global oil.