In the cool hills of Kamojang, an innovation was born from anxiety and the spirit to survive. When the Covid-19 pandemic froze the wheels of the economy, Kamojang residents were faced with tough challenges, ranging from minimal employment opportunities, lack of public transportation, narrow and steep road access, to the distance to the nearest city which was approximately 25 kilometers away. From these limitations, hope emerged, a local resident, Hendri Wahyudi, together with his colleagues, initiated the Rangers App, a digital-based multi-service application that not only answers the need for transportation, but also paves the way for the revival of the village economy.
Starting from a simple service via WhatsApp in 2018, the Rangers App application has now grown into a complete digital ecosystem that can be downloaded for free on the Play Store. Through the Rangers App, residents can order motorcycle taxis, food, courier services, buy MSME products, and exchange inorganic waste for e-money balances through the Kumpulin.id feature. Not only that, there are also Rangers Health, Rangers Academy, and electronic tickets for homestays and local tours.
This initiative also did not escape the attention of PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE) (IDX: PGEO) which continues to demonstrate its commitment to empowering communities through clean energy. One concrete manifestation of this commitment is present through support for the Rangers App.
Seeing the positive social impact of this application, PGE Area Kamojang also supported its development by providing 16 GESITS electric motorbikes and building a Geothermal Battery Swapping Station (BSS). This innovation allows Rangers App drivers to recharge their electric vehicles using electricity from geothermal energy, entirely sourced from clean and renewable energy.
"This support is in line with PGE's vision to become a world-class green energy company and the implementation of ESG principles in our operations. Rangers App is a real example of the synergy between technology, clean energy, and community empowerment," said PGE Corporate Secretary Kitty Andhora.
The impact of the Rangers App has also been proven. The Social Return on Investment (SROI) study by Gadjah Mada University recorded a value of 3.07, which means that every rupiah of investment produces more than three times the social benefits. In addition, the conversion of more than 3,100 kg of inorganic waste into an e-money balance worth IDR 6.3 million through the Kumpulin.id feature marks progress in circular economy-based waste management.
The existence of the Rangers App has also succeeded in cutting travel time from Kamojang to Bandung City from three hours to just one and a half hours. Meanwhile, the Community Satisfaction Index (IKM) survey recorded a score of 95.67%, including the very good category from partners and application users.
"We want the Rangers App to not only be a local transportation service, but a comprehensive solution for villagers. With PGE's support, we can continue to develop features and reach more people," said Hendri Wahyudi, CEO of Rangers App.
"As a rural community, we are proud to be able to present relevant and impactful digital solutions. This is proof that villages can also be centers of innovation," added Prialdi, a driver at Rangers App.
PGE's support for the Rangers App is also one of the company's contributions to the national agenda of energy transition and emission reduction. This initiative contributes to emission reduction of 48 tons of CO2 per year and also strengthens the achievement of PGE Kamojang Area's PROPER Emas which has been achieved for 14 consecutive years.
Through this collaboration, PGE hopes that similar initiatives can be carried out in other operational areas, so as not only to provide clean energy for the country, but also to drive sustainable social change.
