Pertamina Strengthens Environmental Education in Medan's Coastal Areas
PT Pertamina Patra Niaga continues to strengthen its commitment to supporting sustainable development through its Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) programme. One such effort is realised through the SEKAR Programme (Sekolah Kawasan Pesisir), implemented at SD Negeri 068426 in Nelayan Indah Village, Medan Labuhan District, Medan City.
The programme, which has been running since 2025, is an environmental education initiative aimed at improving students’ literacy and awareness regarding coastal environmental conservation. Through a ‘learning by doing’ approach, students are equipped with knowledge and direct practice in waste management, sorting organic and inorganic waste, utilising compost houses, recycling, planting vegetation, and environmental clean-up actions.
Pertamina Patra Niaga conducted an educational activity on the use of a compost house involving 20 students representing grades IV, V, and VI. The knowledge gained by the participants is expected to be passed on to the entire school community of 497 students, supported by 26 teaching staff, so that the programme’s benefits can be felt more widely.
The programme’s implementation also received support from various stakeholders, including the School Supervisor of Medan Labuhan District, Nelayan Indah Village, and Medan Labuhan District. This collaboration is an important part of building a sustainable culture of environmental care in coastal areas.
VP Corporate Communications of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Kitty Andhora, stated that environmental education from an early age is an important investment in creating a generation that cares about environmental sustainability. “Pertamina Patra Niaga believes that efforts to protect the environment must start early. Through the SEKAR Programme, we not only provide education but also build positive habits through direct practice so that students can become agents of change in the school environment, families, and coastal communities. This programme is part of the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable benefits to the community through collaboration with various stakeholders, while supporting the creation of a cleaner and more sustainable environment,” Kitty said in a press release.
The Head of SD Negeri 068426, Nurhayati, expressed her appreciation for the collaboration established with Pertamina Patra Niaga through the SEKAR Programme. “We would like to thank PT Pertamina Patra Niaga for bringing the SEKAR Programme to our school. This programme provides enormous benefits for students in understanding how to sort waste, recognise types of waste that can be recycled, and process it into various creative and valuable works. Now, the children no longer just throw rubbish into the bin, but are also able to transform it into various creative results, such as butterfly-shaped wall decorations and other works. We hope this very beneficial programme can continue so that more students develop a concern for the environment from an early age,” Nurhayati said.
In addition to increasing knowledge about waste management, the SEKAR Programme also delivers tangible benefits through the use of a compost house to process organic waste into compost and recycle inorganic waste. The programme is also supported by the use of a Solar Power Plant (PLTS) within the school environment, which saves approximately Rp150,000 per month in electricity costs while serving as a backup power source during blackouts.
Through these various activities, students are encouraged to build habits of sorting waste, reducing environmental pollution, and understanding the importance of preserving the coastal ecosystem as part of their daily lives. A total of 497 students at SD Negeri 068426 are beneficiaries of the programme, either directly or indirectly, along with 26 teaching staff who play a role in building a school culture that cares about the environment.
Going forward, Pertamina Patra Niaga will continue to develop TJSL programmes focused on community empowerment, education, and environmental conservation as part of the company’s commitment to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the goals of Quality Education, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, and Life Below Water.
Through the SEKAR Programme, Pertamina Patra Niaga hopes to continue nurturing a generation of young coastal residents who have character, care about the environment, and are capable of becoming agents of change in maintaining the cleanliness and sustainability of Indonesia’s coastal ecosystems through real action starting from the school environment.