Pertamina Group - UGM Collaboration Strengthens NRE Development
Jakarta, March 17, 2021 - PT Pertamina (Persero) collaborates with Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) to strengthen the development of New and Renewable Energy (NRE) through the fields of Education, Research and Community Development.
This collaboration was realized by the signing of three agreements between the Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng with three President Directors of Pertamina's subsidiaries.
The first agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Power & NRE Subholding Pertamina, Dannif Danusaputro, to construct a Solar Power Plant (PLTS) in Universitas Gadjah Mada. The second Memorandum of Understanding was signed jointly with the President Director of PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy, Ahmad Yuniarto, regarding support for education, research and community development programs related to NRE.
Meanwhile, the third agreement is a cooperation agreement signed by the CEO of Refining & Petrochemical Subholding Pertamina, Djoko Priyono, to develop Microalgae-based EBT.
The signing of the three collaborations took place in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, which was witnessed by the Minister of State Secretary, Prof. Dr. Pratikno., M.Soc.Sc as the Chairperson of the UGM Board of Trustees and the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi as a Member of the UGM Board of Trustees, and the President Director of Pertamina, Nicke Widyawati.
Prof. Dr. Pratikno., M.Soc.Sc, in his speech, expressed his appreciation to Pertamina and said that the energy in Higher Education is enormous because it has a lot of researchers and students, especially if the research is related to innovation. He hopes that the universities can see and understand the community's needs more so that more innovations from higher education can be developed for industry.
"Of course, UGM is passionate about the Green Industry or Green Energy. Hopefully, the collaboration with UGM can become a collaboration between industry and universities. The government has tremendous support for this collaboration. Hopefully, it can be carried out for Indonesia's energy independence," he said.
On this occasion, President Director of Pertamina Nicke Widyawati explained that the Pertamina Group and UGM collaboration was a positive and encouraging step. In line with the world energy transition, Indonesia must also make a move to create an energy transition from fossil energy to renewable energy.
"Pertamina as a state-owned company engaged in the energy sector through several sub holdings has taken steps to support these efforts, including several collaborative initiatives with partners, including educational institutions and other institutions to increase new and renewable energy," he said.
The cooperation between Pertamina Group and UGM, continued Nicke, will optimize Indonesia's existing potential to increase NRE. Together with UGM, Pertamina has conducted a study on algae and used cooking oil into biocrude and biofuels, which are widely available in Indonesia because they have 17,000 islands and a long coastline. UGM makes breakthroughs in the field of research, and Pertamina develops Biodiesel.
Nicke said, besides managing geothermal, there is another potential to be developed, namely hydrogen energy. All Geothermal Work Areas are open to UGM research to generate future energy.
"We need a place for testing from educational institutions, currently together with UGM with existing facilities as part of laboratories in Indonesia. This collaboration is a starting point, hopefully it can produce products that are the pride of Indonesia and support efforts to develop a sustainable energy business in accordance with the implementation of ESG (Environment, Social and Governance)," concluded Nicke.**