Pertamina Builds Resilient Villages
Villages previously classified as impoverished are now beginning to thrive thanks to the introduction of renewable energy and the application of appropriate technology. Even in areas once affected by disasters due to climate change, communities are now more resilient in rebuilding.
This is exemplified by the Desa Energi Berdikari (DEB) programme presented by Pertamina to Desa Padang Sakti in Muara Satu sub-district, Lhokseumawe, Aceh. Through the programme, renewable energy in the form of a 4.4 Kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar power plant (PLTS) with a 10 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery is utilised for aerators and feed machines. As a result, this environmentally friendly energy can increase pond productivity by up to 40%, and boost residents’ incomes by Rp6-8 million per month.
Amid the enthusiasm of the residents, the 2025 Sumatra and Aceh disaster also swept away shrimp and fish from the villagers’ ponds. Fortunately, the PLTS equipment remained operational, allowing the community to rebuild and reorganise their pond businesses.
“Post-flood, we lost everything. Thanks to Pertamina’s DEB programme support, we could rise again, restart our businesses, and live more independently,” said Muhrizal, a Local Hero in the Gampong Berdikari programme for vannamei shrimp cultivation in Desa Padang Sakti.
DEB provides economic value of up to Rp5.5 billion per year and can reduce emissions by up to 1.09 million tonnes of CO2eq per year. The significant benefits of DEB have earned Pertamina global recognition. Alongside 23 companies worldwide, including Aviva Plc, British Airways, CEMEX, General Motors, Lenovo, and Saudi Aramco, Pertamina received the international Sustainability, Environmental Achievement & Leadership (SEAL) Awards 2026 in the Environmental Initiatives category.
Pertamina’s Vice President of Corporate Communication, Muhammad Baron, stated that this award is a form of appreciation for various tangible initiatives in the environmental and sustainability sectors that positively impact society. Pertamina is assessed as successfully delivering innovative solutions through new and renewable energy, bringing communities towards economic resilience and climate change adaptation in rural areas.
“This international appreciation is the result of collaboration from various parties, starting from the village communities who have become drivers of change, as well as local governments and partners,” said Baron. “It serves as motivation for Pertamina to continue delivering innovations with real impacts, especially in strengthening village resilience against global dynamics,” he added.
Pertamina has built 252 DEB sites across Indonesia. As many as 64% of DEB sites are located outside Java for equitable development. Additionally, 156 DEB sites produce 15.8 thousand tonnes of rice-based food and 890.4 tonnes of non-rice food, supporting national food security.
“Pertamina’s new renewable energy utilisation in DEB consists of solar panels, micro-hydro, biogas, and other renewable energies. We hope that with the utilisation of transition energy, village communities not only have energy resilience but also drivers for economic activities,” said Baron.
Looking ahead, Pertamina is committed to expanding clean energy-based initiatives and community empowerment. The hope is that more villages in Indonesia will not only be able to face economic turbulence and climate change but also grow into centres of new energy and economic independence.
The utilisation of this new renewable energy also aligns with the Government’s National General Energy Plan (RUEN) for the coming year. Pertamina is committed to promoting energy transition, not only as an energy source but also as an effort to reduce carbon emissions in Indonesia.
As a leading company in the energy transition sector, Pertamina is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target and continues to promote programmes that directly impact the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). All these efforts align with Pertamina’s transformation oriented towards governance, public services, business sustainability, and the environment, by applying Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) principles across all business lines and operations, in coordination with Danantara Indonesia.