PGE, UGM, and Agrotekno Produce Environmentally Friendly Fertiliser
PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE) is collaborating with the Faculty of Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada and PT Agrotekno Estetika Laboratoris to develop an environmentally friendly agricultural booster based on geothermal energy. “In the future, the geothermal business will not only focus on electricity but also on beyond electricity, contributing to various sectors, including agriculture,” said PGE Operations Director Andi Joko Nugroho in a written statement on Saturday, 25 April 2026.
This collaboration was achieved through the signing of a joint study development agreement (JSDA) for the Beyond-Katrili project. The initiative also positions Katrili as a solution to challenges and needs for increasing agricultural productivity, particularly in areas around geothermal operations such as North Sulawesi.
Through the Katrili Project, the three parties are integrating geothermal energy research with agricultural technology to produce an agricultural booster based on geothermal silica. This booster can improve soil quality, strengthen plant resilience, and promote sustainable increases in crop yields.
PGE Operations Director Andi Joko Nugroho hopes that the Beyond-Katrili project can become part of the company’s broader strategy, both to enhance agricultural productivity and to expand the utilisation of geothermal energy. “This effort will continue to be strengthened through collaboration and ongoing research so that its benefits can be widely felt by the community,” he said.
Katrili contains silica and chitosan developed from the utilisation of abundant shrimp and crab shell waste in Indonesia. In addition to helping reduce waste, the chitosan content in Katrili functions to protect plants and improve growth quality.
Its application is done by mixing with water and pouring directly onto the soil, with dosages adjusted to the soil characteristics and type of commodity.
Currently, Katrili has been applied to various commodities, such as the Gustavi tomato variety, batik beans, shallots, and rice.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Selo, emphasised the important role of universities in bridging research and the implementation of technology in society. Therefore, Selo said that the development of Katrili serves as a concrete example of integrating energy and food, while also strengthening Indonesia’s position in developing new renewable energy amid global dynamics.
Meanwhile, CEO of PT Agrotekno Estetika Laboratoris, Alexander H. Soeriyadi, sees great potential in the silica content for improving plant resilience and crop yield quality.
One of the research team members from FT UGM, Pri Utami, assured that this innovation is based on an interdisciplinary scientific approach, combining geology, pharmacy, and agriculture to produce practical and sustainable solutions.