Indonesian and Australian Mining Emergency Response Teams to Test Skills at IMERC 2026

A total of 24 emergency response teams (ERT) from Indonesian and Australian mining companies will test their capabilities in handling various emergency scenarios at the Indonesia Mining Emergency Response Community (IMERC) 2026 event in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, from 6 to 9 August 2026. IMERC serves as a platform for collaboration across various levels of society, raising awareness, and facilitating the transfer of experience among ERTs globally, said IMERC 2026 Committee Chairman Koko Prayitno in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. “We believe that safety cannot be built alone, but rather through a shared commitment to continuously learn, train, and improve competency standards. The hope is that IMERC can be a catalyst for the birth of Indonesian ERTs that are increasingly ready to face various challenges and capable of competing at the international level,” Koko added. IMERC 2026 will be held at the Garuda Rescue Nusantara (GRN) training and simulation facility, with PT Putra Perkasa Abadi (PPA) serving as this year’s host. This is the second edition of the event after it was first held in 2025. The 24 participating teams hail from PT Borneo Indobara, PT Kaltim Prima Coal, PT Mustika Indah Permai, PT Bukit Asam Tbk, PT Mandiri Herindo Adiperkasa, PT Petrosea Tbk, PT Indexim Coalindo, PT Sapta Indah Sejati, and PT Kideco Jaya Agung. Also participating are ERTs from PT Freeport Indonesia, PT Vale Indonesia Tbk, PT Hengjaya Mineralindo, PT Arutmin Indonesia, PT Maruwai Coal, PT Satria Bahana Sarana, PT SIMS Jaya Kaltim, PT Pamapersada Nusantara, PT Mifa Bersaudara, PT Aneka Tambang Tbk, PT Berau Coal, PT Cipta Kridatama, PT Labuha Internusa, PT Multi Harapan Utama, and Northern Star Resources from Australia. According to Koko, enthusiasm from mining companies for the event is quite high. The number of companies interested in participating in IMERC 2026 even exceeded the available participant capacity. He stated that the mining industry has high-risk characteristics, making emergency preparedness a vital part of the safety system. Beyond accident prevention efforts, the ability of rescue teams to respond to emergency conditions must also be continuously trained and tested. At IMERC 2026, these abilities will be tested through eight challenges: Theory Test, Road Crash Rescue, Underwater Rescue & Recovery, Vertical Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Firefighter Combat Challenge, Individual Skill, and Structural Fire Fighting. The scenarios are designed to closely mimic conditions that could potentially occur in mining areas or supporting facilities such as workshops, warehouses, and other work areas. This year, IMERC adopts the theme “Face Up”, which emphasises courage in facing challenges, readiness, collaboration, and competency enhancement in dealing with increasingly complex emergency conditions. One international team, Northern Star Resources from Australia, is participating. This team is the overall champion of MERC 2024 in Australia, and its presence is part of a strategic collaboration between Indonesia and Australia in the field of mine rescue. This collaboration is expected to strengthen rescue operation standards in Indonesia to be on par with international standards and encourage the exchange of knowledge and the latest innovations in emergency handling. “IMERC builds a culture of learning and sharing experiences. When participants return to their respective companies with new knowledge and skills, the impact will be felt far beyond the competition arena,” said Sue Steele, Founder of MERC Australia. In addition to the competition, IMERC 2026 carries three main pillars: Challenge, Training, and Charity. The series of activities also involves the community, volunteers, universities, and MSME players.