Commitment To Support SDGs, Pupuk Kaltim Wins Four Platinum TJSL Awards And CSR Award 2023

Photo: Doc. Pupuk Kaltim

JAKARTA - The continuity of PT Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (Pupuk Kaltim)'s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through the implementation of the Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) program, continues to show a significant contribution with various achievements from the consistency being carried out.

Most recently, Pupuk Kaltim won 4 awards for the Platinum category (Star 5) as the highest appreciation at the TJSL and CSR Award 2023 events, which were held by the BUMN Track Magazine in collaboration with the Indonesia Shared Value Institute (ISVI). Where Pupuk Kaltim is considered capable of optimizing the role of the four pillars of the SDGs, namely the category of the Platinum Pillar Social, Economic, Environmental, Legal and Governance, which is summarized in the Marine Park Conservation and Karang Reef Media Facilities (Sudera Flash) program.

This award also led Pupuk Kaltim to become the only company in Indonesia to receive the platinum title for the assessment of the four pillars of SDGs, reviewed based on the Regulation of the Minister of SOEs on Special Assignments and the TJSL BUMN Program, which aims to provide benefits to the four pillars of development in order to create added value for companies and UMKs in a sustainable manner.

President Director of Pupuk Kaltim Budi Wahju Soesilo, said that this award is proof of Pupuk Kaltim's commitment to support the achievement of 17 SDGs indicators, which are contained in four development pillars. Mainly encouraging environmental and ecosystem improvement according to the principles of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) which the company continues to develop.

"This is also a form of added value creation realized by Pupuk Kaltim in encouraging the supply chain ecosystem, to support circular economic practices by prioritizing aspects of community empowerment which refers to the four pillars of the SDGs," said Soesilo, after receiving the award at the Borobudur Hotel Grand Ballroom, Jakarta, Thursday, August 10.

Soesilo explained that the Kilau Samudera program carries the concept of community empowerment to improve the marine ecosystem and coral reefs, as well as encourage independence by prioritizing benefits through wider coverage in Bontang City. This program was developed in a measured manner, with the main target of changing the mindset of fishing communities to stop the activities of Unfriendly Fish Fishing (PITRAL).

The program, which has been initiated since 2017, departs from Pupuk Kaltim's concern about the rise of PHur Kaltim's activities in Bontang waters, which greatly impacts the sustainability of the ecosystem and marine biota. Especially with the coral reef conservation program which has also been developed by Pupuk Kaltim since 2009, it will be also affected if fishing activities are still carried out environmentally unfriendly.

"Through this program, Pupuk Kaltim not only focuses on conservation of coral reef repairs in Bontang waters, but also embraces the community, which initially became the main motor driving program through a group with the name Kimasea in Loktuan Bontang Utara Village," explained Soesilo.

Starting from the beginning of coaching, the Kimasea group is equipped with education on the importance of maintaining environmentally friendly water and fishing ecosystems. Followed by various training and empowerment such as the creation of coral media to monitoring the development of conservation areas on a regular basis.

This group also plays a role in inviting fishermen in Bontang City to alleviate the problem of damaging the water ecosystem, so that public awareness in maintaining waters as a shared responsibility also increases.

Development is aimed at raising awareness of fishermen in maintaining the water ecosystem, by encouraging concrete actions to save the water ecosystem without any more destructive activities in fishing. This is considered important, because the conservation program will not be achieved on target, if public awareness of the importance of maintaining the water ecosystem is not formed.

"Five years of coaching, the Kimasea group was able to establish various model coral reef media manufacturing businesses, with a total of 14 members. They not only serve the needs for the Pupuk Kaltim conservation program, but also supply various orders from the government, institutions, and other companies in Bontang City," continued Soesilo.

From the continuity of these efforts, Pupuk Kaltim has so far placed approximately 6,822 reef media covering an area of 8,356 square meters, and has succeeded in creating 3,557 square m of reef cover. The conservation program is carried out using artificial reef media and transplants in the waters of Tobok Batang, Bontang City.

Kimasea's active participation in the Kimasean group has gradually changed the mindset of fishermen who left an unfriendly fishing pattern, and switched to catching marine products more responsibly. This also has a significant economic impact, where from the results of the 2022 Social Return On Investment (SROI) study, each member of the group is able to earn an additional income of IDR 70 million per year.

Seeing the benefits produced, Pupuk Kaltim has also expanded the program through the formation of a new group since 2022, with the name Karaka in Bontang Kuala Village. Until now, the two fostered groups have actively continued to increase participation and role in suppressing PITRAL activities in Bontang waters, as well as developing member capacity to intensify sustainable reef conservation measures.

In accordance with ESG principles, the expansion of reef conservation and rehabilitation will continue to be developed by Pupuk Kaltim as the company's commitment to running a business that is in line with the environment, while maintaining a continuous balance of nature and ecosystems.

"This is also a form of Pupuk Kaltim's commitment to the four pillars of SDGs through the concept of sustainable development, considering that the welfare of the community is also the focus of developing a reef conservation program developed through the benefits of TJSL," concluded Budi Wahju Soesilo.