PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) Kamojang Area, part of Pertamina New & Renewable Energy subholding, has a high commitment to implementing social and environmental responsibility, one of which is through the introduction of digitalization to create a modern and technologically literate society in the Operational Ring 1 area. The PGE Kamojang flagship programs are Ibun Mall, Rangers App, and Signal Kita.
Catur Hendro Utomo Kristiono, Acting General Manager of PGE Kamojang, said that Ibun Mall was an innovation and a new approach to selling local products online in Ibun District, Bandung Regency. Ibun Mall was developed by PGE Kamojang together with the youth in Ibun District and its surroundings. On this platform MSMEs had the opportunity to develop and improve both the quality and quantity of their products.
"This program allows people to be more literate in technology and maximize local potential. Ibun Mall's innovation has even been recognized by the TikTok as one of the best creators in 2022," said Catur on Friday, November 18, 2022.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, MSMEs economy in Ibun District experiences a decline in production and orders. Through Ibun Mall, MSMEs can increase online product resale. Moreover, Ibun Mall also provides training related to online sales methods, sales content creation, business administration, and the product management so that MSMEs have the opportunity to develop and improve both the quality and quantity of their products.
Another PGE Kamojang’s digital-based program is Rangers App. Developed by a youth group chaired by Hendri Wahyudi, this multi-service application has various features, such as motorcycle taxis (ojek), food delivery, couriers, online markets, local MSME products and services commerce, online waste banks, and electronic tickets for homestays and tourist destination.
"Rangers App is a service application designed for the needs of the people in the Ibun sub-district. We try our best to help the local community and hopefully this application will develop wider and useful for more people," said Hendri.
To top up electronic money on the Rangers App, registered user can collect garbage to increase their saving in the integrated online garbage bank called Kumpulin.id.
This year, according to Catur, PGE Kamojang Area is assisting in the operational development of the Rangers App using 16 units of GESITS brand G-1 electric motors. The batteries for electric motors are recharged using electricity generated from clean, renewable, and environmentally friendly geothermal power plant managed by the PGE Kamojang Area, meaning that the electric motor is powered by 100% green energy, geothermal.
The Rangers App innovation manages to reduce emissions by 4.03 tons of CO2 per month. With the help of electric motors to optimize Rangers App operations, PGE Area Kamojang together with fostered partners, participate in supporting the target of zero emissions or net zero waste emissions in 2060. "Hopefully this program can provide sustainability and the green energy enthusiasm to local community," said Catur.
The next digital-based PGE Kamojang flagship program is Signal Kita. This program was initiated because of the limited direct community interaction during COVID-19 pandemic. The remote location of the village in the hills with poor internet access condition became an obstacle. PGE Kamojang collaborated with Cepi Nugraha, a fostered partner who developed internet network services for remote villages, to come up with the Signal Kita program.
According to Catur, Signal Kita provides an internet network that is very essential for school and daily activities during pandemic. Signal Kita also creates innovation by providing internet services in exchange for garbage and tree planting.
“The total amount of garbage converted into internet services is 15.1 tons, converted into 16,800 online hours. More than 1,000 trees have also been planted as an exchange for the internet services," he said.
PGE Kamojang’s Signal Kita program received a Platinum Award in the Novelty Program category at the E2S Proving League 2022. PGE Kamojang was one of 22 candidates and recipients of GOLD PROPER 2020-2021in the Energy and Mineral Resources sector who participated in the E2S Proving League 2022 entitled "CSR Collaboration: Building Community Resilience and Local Livelihoods Generation".
PGE ensures the implementation of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) as an integrated part of PGE's geothermal business. The implementation of these ESG aspects is an effort to provide added value and support the government programs related to the use of new, renewable energy that is environmentally friendly, especially the geothermal energy.
PGE's commitment to developing geothermal energy can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of Goal 7 (Clean and Affordable Energy), Goal 12 (Responsible Construction and Production), Goal 13 (Climate Change Management), and Goal 15 (Land Ecosystem).
