Pertamina plants 760 coral fragments to restore Tikus Island reef in Bengkulu

Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumatera Bagian Selatan (Sumbagsel) has planted 760 coral seedlings at three sites in the waters around Tikus Island, Bengkulu City, as part of efforts to help restore the coral reef ecosystem in the coastal area.

“This planting is not merely about increasing the number of corals, but is an initial step towards restoring the Tikus Island ecosystem. We are targeting a growth success rate of 80 per cent, so monitoring and maintenance need to be carried out together,” said Area Manager Communication, Relations & CSR of Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagsel, Rusminto Wahyudi, in Bengkulu via electronic message received on Tuesday.

The planting was carried out through the Pulau Baai Fuel Terminal together with Stars Diving Bengkulu and the local community, using 40 spider racks as transplant media. Each rack contains 19 coral seedlings and was placed at three different depths.

The transplant racks were placed at depths of around 2 metres, 4–5 metres, and 6–7 metres. The spider method has also been used in coral reef rehabilitation research in the waters of Tikus Island and has shown good coral survival potential at certain depths.

The target growth success rate of up to 80 per cent means the planting will be followed by monitoring and maintenance. This step is necessary to ensure that the planted seedlings can develop and support the recovery of the coral reef ecosystem in the Tikus Island area.

The coral reef restoration effort also involves the local community, including a tourism awareness group (Pokdarwis) fostered by Pertamina. Community involvement is expected to strengthen awareness of the marine ecosystem, because coral reefs are linked to the presence of marine life and the tourism potential of Tikus Island.

The planting of 760 seedlings coincided with the commemoration of National Nature Conservation Day (HKAN) 2026. The activity at three sites in the waters of Tikus Island is part of the efforts of Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagsel, together with the community, to protect and restore the marine ecosystem sustainably.

Rusminto said the involvement of the community and Pokdarwis is expected to ensure that efforts to protect Tikus Island do not stop at the planting activity, but continue through monitoring and maintenance of the coral reefs.

“By involving the community and Pokdarwis, we hope that concern for the preservation of Tikus Island can continue to grow and provide benefits for both the environment and the community,” said Rusminto.

Head of the Bengkulu City Environmental Agency, Anshar Amin, appreciated the collaboration between Pertamina, the community, and residents in protecting the marine ecosystem of Tikus Island.

“Conservation requires real action and the involvement of many parties. What was done today is a positive step towards restoring coral reefs while increasing public awareness of Bengkulu’s marine environment,” said Anshar.

For Tikus Island, coral reefs not only serve as a habitat for various marine life, but also act as a natural buffer that helps protect the land from ocean waves. The condition of the coral reef ecosystem is linked to the sustainability of the coastal area and tourism activities on the small island.