Support The Government, Bukit Asam Has An EBT Project And Carbon Management

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) developed a number of projects including the development of new and renewable energy (EBT).

President Director of PTBA, Arsal Ismail said, PTBA also has a vision to become a world-class energy company that cares about the environment. So business diversification to the field of new and renewable energy (EBT) is carried out.

"On October 24, 2024, PTBA launched Pilot Plant (proof factory) Wood Pellet from Kaliandra Merah in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra," Arsal said in a statement to the media quoted on Thursday, October 31.

Arsal said that the development of Wood Pellet, which is a fuel mixture of coal (co filtering) at Steam Power Plants (PLTU), is a continuation of the Kaliandra Merah cultivation program for biomass which has been started by PTBA in 2023.

"Currently, the production capacity that can be produced from Pilot Plant is 200 kg per hour," explained Arsal.

The company has so far also built PLTS at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in collaboration with PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero), which has been fully operational since October 2020. The PLTS has a maximum capacity of 241 kilowatt-peak (kWp) and is installed at the Airport Operation Control Center (AOCC) Building.

In addition to Angkasa Pura II, PTBA is also working with Jasa Marga Group for the development of PLTS on toll roads. PLTS with a capacity of 400 kWp on the Bali-Mandara Toll Road has been completed and inaugurated on September 21, 2022. The company also collaborated with PT Semen Baturaja Tbk (SMBR) in the construction of PLTS with a capacity of 23.07 kWp which reached the COD stage in June 2023.

On the other hand, PTBA is also working with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to start a coal conversion pilot project into Artificial Graphite and Anode Sheet for Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery raw materials. The pilot project's inaugural launch (soft launching) took place in the Tanjung Enim Industrial Estate on July 15, 2024.

"The coal conversion project plot to Artificial Graphite and Anode Sheet can be one of the important breakthroughs in coal downstreaming," he explained.

Arsal added that the development of coal into Artificial Graphite and Anode Sheet is a form of PTBA's commitment to supporting the Government's policy of encouraging coal downstreaming, maintaining national energy security, and supporting the advancement of the domestic electric vehicle industry.

To support the Government in achieving the Net Zero Emission target in 2060, Arsal said PTBA had implemented a number of programs to support decarbonization.

In terms of operations, in addition to implementing Good Mining Practice, the Company also implemented Eco Mechanized Mining, namely replacing mining equipment that uses fossil fuels to become electric.

Some of the electrical-based tools that have been used by PTBA include Electric Excavators of the PC-3000 Shovel type, Dump Trucks of 100 Tons of hybrid ( Diesel and Electricity) class, and Electricity-based Mining Pumps. PTBA has also operated electric buses at Tarahan Port and Tanjung Enim Mining Unit.

The company is also implementing an E-Mining Reporting System, namely a production reporting system in real time and online so as to minimize conventional monitoring using fuel.

Another innovation, PTBA developed an artificial wetland (constructed wetland) to remove polluting materials such as heavy metals and was able to neutralize mine acid water.

"These decarbonization programs are part of the carbon management roadmap of PTBA until 2060 which will continue to be implemented and developed in a sustainable manner in each company line to provide optimal results," said Arsal.