Gorontalo Biomass Industry Frees Deforestation, Thousands Of People Are More Prosperous Thanks To BJA Group

JAKARTA - PT Biomasa Jaya Abadi (BJA) Group continues to prove its commitment to developing a biomass industry that prioritizes sustainable and deforestation-free practices. Not only for the greener future, but BJA Group also continues to realize a positive contribution in realizing a better regional economy future and improving the welfare of the people in Pohuwato Regency, Gorontalo.

In the midst of a negative campaign around Gorontalo deforestation, three companies in BJA Group, namely PT Biomasa Jaya Abadi, PT Bayan Tumbuh Lestari (BTL), and PT Inti Global Laksana (IGL) have become the focus of living for the people of Gorontalo. When a number of NGOs asked Japanese companies to stop importing wood pellets from Indonesia, there were thousands of employees and their families who depend on the BJA Group's wood pellet business that prioritizes legal and sustainable (illegal and sustainable) forest management.

Head of the Pohuwato Regency Manpower and Transmigration Office, Nizma Sanad, revealed that based on BPJS Health and Manpower data as of September 2025, the number of workers in PT BJA was 606 people. At PT BTL and PT IGL, the total number of workers was 756 people. Meanwhile, the total number of loading and unloading workers (TKBM) at PT Berkah Indah Gorontalo (BIG) amounted to 139 people.

Thus, the total workforce absorbed by the BJA Group reached 1,501 people. Of these, local workers from Pohuwato Regency reached 1,083 people or more than 72 percent. Around 12.5 percent of the BJA Group's workers came from other regencies in Gorontalo. Only 15.5 percent came from outside Gorontalo.

"With such a workforce composition, PT BJA Group has complied with Regional Regulations that require companies investing in Pohuwato Regency to place or absorb 70 percent of the local workforce from Pohuwato Regency. Thank you to PT Inti Global Laksana, PT Banyun Tumbuh Lestari and PT Biomassa Jaya Abadi for their good cooperation so far," said Niza, Monday, November 3, 2025.

Since operating in Pohuwato, BJA Group has consistently proven its commitment to always prioritize local workers. In 2021, the number of employees working in these three companies is only about 200 people. Then five years later, the number jumped by almost 700% while still prioritizing local residents.

From the available data, around 1,500 employees who work at the BJA Group have a family dependent of around 1,500 people. That means, there are about 3,000 people whose lives depend on the source of income from the BJA Group. This does not include other dependents in life such as parents, siblings, brothers and sisters, and other relatives.

Many families are already dependent on BJA. There are school fees, the cost of living for thousands of community members who have been sourced from company investments in Pohuwato. This is a situation that we must protect together," said Nizma.

BJA Group's investment in Pohuwato Regency is a long-term investment and will always increase along with the company's operational development. The number of workers is also expected to continue to grow along with the increasing progress and production. According to the commitment from the start, BJA Group has always provided equal opportunities for employees to have a career in the company in accordance with the company's competencies and operational needs.

Currently, local sons have occupied various positions in the BJA Group, including as Mandor/Supervisor, Kerani (administration), Mandor I (Head of Sub-Division), Head of Section (Assistant) and Assistant Head. Not all local workers become field workers.

Not only an increase in employment, BJA Group's investment has also driven the circulation of money in Pohuwato to increase. In September 2025, for example, the BJA Group paid salaries to all its employees of around Rp. 6.8 billion. In addition, the company also spent a very large amount of operational and operational support costs.

That is why the presence of PT BJA Group which has full support from local governments and the community will be the key to improving people's welfare and a better future for the younger generation in Pohuwato.

The Pohuwato regional government will continue to carry out supervision and establish positive cooperation with every investor who enters this area. We are grateful that the BJA Group has always complied and followed every rule set by the Puhuwato Regency government," said Nizma.