Supporting ESG Achievement, Pertamina Saves Papuan Animals by Making Animal Transit Cages Before Release

Sorong, June 16, 2022 – As a form of commitment in implementing Environmental Social Governance (ESG) parameters related to biodiversity conservation, Pertamina, through PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (PT KPI) Kasim Unit, has formed a partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) West Papua Province in animal rescue cages construction in the Sorong City Nature Park.

This animal rescue cage completes the conservation chain for Papua's protected animals, where previously PT KPI had helped build the Animal Clinic. The cage becomes a transit for protected animals before being released into the wild.

The animal rescue cage or transit cage was officially used today, which was marked by the inauguration of the cage by General Manager of Refinery Unit VII Kasim, Yusuf Mansyur, Corporate Secretary of PT KPI, Ifki Sukarya, and Plt. Head of the West Papua KSDA Center, Budi Mulyanto.

Five Koki Cockatoos have been trained to live in the open in the Animal Rescue Cage located in the Sorong Natural Tourism Park (TWA) area, West Papua. The animal is a protected animal that was handed over voluntarily by the community to the West Papua BBKSDA, which was previously owned illegally.

"This collaboration is a strengthening of inter-institutional synergy to conserve wildlife endemic of West Papua. We are grateful for the support from all parties, where conservation efforts cannot be done alone and are the responsibility of all of us, people on earth," said Budi Mulyanto.

He also hopes that the synergy between PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional and BBKSDA Papua can be followed by other companies as a joint effort to preserve fauna and flora in the very diverse and protected province of West Papua.

Meanwhile, the GM of the Kasim Refinery, Yusuf Mansyur, said that the efforts could be beneficial for the sustainability of the ecosystem on earth, especially the endemic animals of West Papua so that they remain sustainable.

Sorong Nature Tourism Park covering an area of 900 hectares, is a natural forest area and is one of the centers for flora and fauna conservation in the West Papua province.

Corporate Secretary of PT KPI, Ifki Sukarya, stated that this animal rescue cage assistance is part of the Cooperation Agreement with the West Papua Province BBKSDA with Refinery Unit VII Kasim, which was initiated in 2018.

The program is implemented in the form of assistance for the construction of a Quarantine Clinic, which was inaugurated in September 2021, then quarantine cages, sometimes animal rescue, and other infrastructure.

"This activity follows the company's standards in carrying out its operations through one of the ESG parameters in supporting the preservation of biodiversity," explained Ifki Sukarya.

Ifki added that this step also follows the 13th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to take immediate action to combat climate change and its impacts, as well as the 15th goal of protecting, restoring, and supporting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, managing forests sustainably, combating desertification, inhibiting and reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss.

Ifki hopes that this synergy step can encourage biodiversity preservation which is Papua's natural wealth. Thus, it will have a positive impact on nature conservation.**