Independent Energy Villages Featured at COP 29, Pertamina Commits to Environmental Sustainability in Communities

Baku, November 14, 2024 – PT Pertamina (Persero) operates while focusing on sustainability, directly impacting communities. One of the standout programs showcasing Pertamina's community involvement is the Independent Energy Village (Desa Energi Berdikari).

At the United Nations Climate Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, Pertamina shared the Independent Energy Village (DEB) success story, which could encourage local energy self-sufficiency and economic independence.

Corporate Secretary of Pertamina New & Renewable Energy, Dicky Septriadi, explained that the Independent Energy Village is one of Pertamina's flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs aimed at providing access to clean energy for remote villages across Indonesia. This program not only provides sustainable electricity access but also promotes local economic growth and empowers communities to become more self-reliant in meeting their energy needs.

"Through the Independent Energy Village, Pertamina strengthens its commitment to contributing to global climate action. As one of the world's largest energy producers, Pertamina recognizes its crucial role in supporting Indonesia’s development while addressing the challenges of climate change," emphasized Dicky during a panel at the ICESCO Pavilion on Wednesday (November 13, 2024).

The presence of DEB at COP 29 also invites other private sectors to play a role in climate action. Pertamina highlighted that climate change is a common enemy that can only be overcome through cross-sector collaboration.

"Taking part in climate action is not just a corporate responsibility, but also about ensuring business sustainability and community resilience in the future. We invite other companies to join us, contribute to initiatives like the Independent Energy Village, and together create positive change," Dicky concluded.

Vice President of Corporate Communication of Pertamina, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, stated that Pertamina continues to expand clean energy use in rural areas through the Independent Energy Village Program. To date, Pertamina has established 114 Independent Energy Villages across Indonesia.

"The DEB developed by Pertamina utilizes clean energy sources such as solar power, micro-hydro, and biogas, which have great potential and can provide long-term benefits," Fadjar said.

Fadjar added that in running the DEB program, Pertamina not only installs clean energy infrastructure but also educates the community on how to manage clean energy to maximize its benefits for economic development. Through this education, Pertamina hopes communities can independently manage their energy needs.

This program has directly benefited more than 30,000 people, reduced carbon emissions by more than 729,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year, and generated a positive economic impact of USD 180,000 annually.

"DEB drives community energy and economic independence while supporting behavior change toward environmentally friendly practices," Fadjar said.

Fadjar also mentioned that Pertamina will continue to expand village-based clean energy use. In 2024, Pertamina targets to add DEB in 79 regions.

In addition to supporting energy self-sufficiency, the DEB Program plays a crucial role in reducing emissions in line with the government's goal to achieve Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060.

"The broader the use of clean energy, the greater the reduction in carbon emissions, which can accelerate the government's NZE target," Fadjar added.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina’s business lines and operations.**