Pertamina and Bakrie Group Collaboration, President Jokowi Carries Out Groundbreaking on Nusantara Sustainability Hub

Jakarta, June 5, 2024 – PT Pertamina (Persero) and Bakrie Group are collaborating to build the Nusantara Sustainability Hub in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). Through a strategic partnership between Bakrie Group and Pertamina, the Nusantara Sustainability Hub will host various research initiatives conducted by the International Institute of Sustainability Indonesia (IISI) to develop a world-class research center and educational facility for sustainable energy.

The Nusantara Sustainability Hub construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony symbolically led by President Joko Widodo in the IKN area on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. This event was attended by Acting Head of the IKN Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono, President Director of Pertamina, Nicke Widyawati, CEO of Bakrie & Brothers, Anindya Bakrie, President Director of Pertamina subsidiary PT Patra Jasa, Ray S.M Daulay, President Director of the Bakrie Center Foundation, Jimmy Gani, and other strategic partners.

President Joko Widodo expressed full support for partnerships with various international institutions focused on sustainability, emphasizing the government’s openness to collaboration in IKN. The President's presence is related to a Joint Statement of Collaboration signing at Stanford University, witnessed by President Joko Widodo in November 2023, regarding a research cooperation plan in Indonesia’s sustainability sector.

“Investment in IKN is a program for the future because economic transformation, green economy, and green energy are what we will develop here. I highly appreciate and value the construction of the Nusantara Sustainability Hub through the cooperation of Pertamina, Bakrie, and other companies. It will attract other companies and universities to collaborate here, making it a showcase for our country’s research and green economic development,” said President Joko Widodo in his speech during the Nusantara Sustainability Hub groundbreaking at IKN on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

The collaboration between Pertamina and Bakrie Group includes developing shared-hub infrastructure in the strategic Edutown IKN area and conducting various research projects covering sustainability aspects, such as critical mineral research based on artificial intelligence (AI) to support sustainable resource exploration transformation. These aspects demonstrate that the partnership between Pertamina and Bakrie Group consistently prioritizes a commitment to sustainable development and resource management.

For this initiative, Pertamina involves its subsidiary, PT Patra Jasa, which plays a role in developing the Nusantara Sustainability Hub.

Nicke Widyawati stated that Pertamina, through Patra Jasa, will gradually build the Nusantara Sustainability Hub to advance sustainability aspects in IKN, while establishing an international research and innovation center in sustainability and low-carbon technology.

“We hope the Nusantara Sustainability Hub will serve as a platform for various initiatives, brainstorming, and sustainable development involving various parties. Ultimately, Pertamina strives to achieve environmentally friendly energy that will be optimally utilized in IKN. To support this plan, Pertamina appreciates the IKN Authority and Bakrie Group for initiating this synergy with Pertamina,” added Nicke.

Anindya Bakrie, CEO of Bakrie & Brothers, stated that through Indonesia’s partnership with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, IISI will become the first sustainability school in Indonesia and play a crucial role in promoting Nusantara IKN as the Green Silicon Valley of Southeast Asia. IISI and the Nusantara Sustainability Hub are expected to be part of Indonesia’s transformation journey, not only physically but also in mindset, becoming a milestone of a new civilization in Indonesia that is prosperous, just, and sustainable. By linking this R&D center to the innovation and sustainability ecosystem, IISI will foster critical mineral research and AI-based exploration technology development through cooperation with Stanford Mineral-X and utilize abundant renewable energy potential by prioritizing sustainability principles.

“By exploring Indonesia’s partnership with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, we will not only build an institute but also create an ecosystem supporting innovation through strong public-private partnerships between Bakrie Group and other business groups, Pertamina, and the IKN Authority to realize the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045,” explained Anindya Bakrie.

The synergy between Pertamina and Bakrie Group has been established since the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two parties last March. This facility is expected to become a research center focused on Indonesia’s strengths in decarbonization, including renewable energy potential, critical minerals, and biodiversity.**