Commitment to Environmental Protection: PGN Pagardewa Relies on This Programme!

PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk’s Pagardewa Station is running the Innovative Programme for Strengthening Creative, Safe, and Equal Villages in Pagardewa (Pendekar Dewa). This social innovation programme addresses the needs of vulnerable rubber farmer groups in Pagardewa, South Sumatra.

It is known that 59.06% of Pagardewa’s area consists of rubber plantations. Meanwhile, 71.06% of the 4,292 residents depend on rubber plantations.

The programme is implemented through three pillars. The first is the AMAN pillar to maintain rubber price stability, optimise rubber plantations, and increase rubber farmers’ family incomes. Then the SETARA pillar, which has successfully created clean water sources and sanitation, as well as the Creative Economy pillar in the form of business spaces, interests, and training at Danau Kemiri.

In the AMAN pillar, the Pendekar Dewa programme changes the system from frozen rubber harvesting through middlemen and collectors to industry, to liquid rubber harvesting from farmers directly to the factory.

This effort has successfully increased latex harvest income by Rp 57.6 million per person per year, provided 100% cost efficiency for ant acetic acid, added 1 greenhouse in the nursery area, developed 3,400 superior seeds, and optimised Wanatani results of Rp 24 million per person per year.

Then, an increase in sales of UMKM products by rubber farmers’ wives by Rp 11.38 million per group, cultivation of 73 bee colonies, and empowerment of 28 farmers’ wives.

Meanwhile, in the SETARA pillar, Pendekar Dewa provides training on solar panel maintenance by the operations and maintenance (OM) function. Activities from this pillar include utilising water sources and clean water facilities as MCK and for extinguishing land and forest fires.

The impact of these efforts is the installation of a 1.2 kWp Solar Power Plant (PLTS) for borehole pump power and lighting, and the formation of Pendekar Talang from 28 family heads as water managers, as well as 2 replication trainings on beekeeping and PLTS maintenance.

Finally, the Creative Economy pillar consists of Rumpun Kemiri activities. This pillar has produced an additional water function of 22,500 m³ and the construction of Danau Kemiri as a source of water for extinguishing forest and land fires and as a public open space.

Furthermore, the overall environmental impact of the Pendekar Dewa programme is a reduction of 5.67 tons of CO2-eq emissions from rubber transport (53.09%), a decrease in carbon emissions of 0.269 tons CO2-eq per year with the use of solar panels, and replanting of 1,700 superior rubber trees with carbon absorption of 0.622 tons CO2.

Then, the welfare impact is an improvement in the quality of life for 28 families through solar panel-based MCK, a 50% reduction in the potential for theft of rubber harvest results, and a centre for fulfilling rubber plantation business needs from the Padetra Artomulyo Cooperative.

Meanwhile, the economic impact is income from Danau Kemiri tourism of Rp 92.4 million per year, rubber farmer income of Rp 57.6 million per person per year, 20% contribution to Village Original Income (PAD) equivalent to Rp 18.4 million per year. The societal impact includes 7,204 indirect beneficiaries, 301 direct beneficiaries, and becoming the first latex station in Muara Enim Regency.

In addition, the programme earned PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk’s Pagardewa Station the 2025 PROPER Performance Rating Assessment Programme award from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) with a Gold ranking. This award is given as appreciation for the company’s commitment to sustainable environmental management.

The award was handed over directly by the Minister of Environment and Forestry/Head of the Environment Management Agency Hanif Faisol Nurofiq at the PROPER Environmental Award event at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), Jakarta, on Tuesday (7/4/2026).

“At least there are 74,000 business units in the world that have Environmental Management Efforts and Environmental Monitoring Efforts documents (UKL-UPL) and Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL). This is an obligation for us to monitor routinely every six months,” he stated.

As information, the PROPER award is routinely held as an effort to increase companies’ compliance with environmental regulations. The award is given using several parameters. PROPER is a public disclosure programme for environmental performance assessment.