PHR Strengthens Community Support in Operational Areas Through GEMA Programme

Pertamina Hulu Rokan (PHR) is strengthening its social licence to operate on the island of Sumatra through the implementation of the ‘Active Community Movement’ (GEMA). This activity is aimed at measuring the impact of the Community Empowerment and Involvement Programme (PPM). Throughout 2025, PHR’s Corporate Secretary function has implemented 327 programmes across 31 regencies in five provinces, reaching more than 10,000 beneficiaries with tangible impacts in the environmental, economic, wellbeing, and social sectors. The PPM programme successfully increased the income of fostered partners by up to IDR 7 billion through the development of 288 MSME products, saved 170,000 kWh of energy, recycled more than 1 tonne of waste, and planted over 89,000 terrestrial and aquatic plants on 120 hectares of land. These efforts contributed to an emission reduction of 919 tonnes of CO2eq (carbon dioxide equivalent) per year. In the wellbeing sector, PHR conducted 104 vocational certification training sessions and empowered 187 persons with disabilities. Meanwhile, on the social aspect, the company developed eight ecotourism destinations, created 39 green jobs, and opened 256 new employment opportunities for the community. To measure the programme’s effectiveness, the Corporate Secretary function, through the Community Involvement & Development (CID) sub-function, conducted an online survey on 3 June 2026 involving 318 beneficiary representatives across 20 fields in three operational zones. The number of respondents exceeded the minimum statistical requirement based on the Slovin method, thus providing a representative picture of community perceptions of the PPM programme. CID Regional 1 Manager Iwan Ridwan Faizal led the socialisation by presenting operational highlights, PPM governance, and the role of local heroes in supporting programme sustainability. One inspiring story came from Tri Ningsih, a member of the Kemuning Women Farmers Group (KWT) in Prabumulih, Zone 4. Through the ‘Muda Bersama’ (Empowered Women, Managing Waste Together) programme, Tri successfully mentored 13 other KWTs through innovations in processing waste into fertiliser and herbal products. The programme not only increased the group’s turnover by up to IDR 1 million per month but also encouraged economic independence while strengthening social solidarity within the community. The survey results indicated that five out of six Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the programme were successfully achieved. The education provided also proved effective in improving the community’s understanding of the upstream oil and gas industry. A total of 97% of participants scored above 70 on the post-test, with a regional average score of 90.92. In fact, 77% of participants scored in the 90-100 range, a 38% increase compared to the pre-test results. The survey also showed a high level of community acceptance of the company’s programmes. A total of 88% of respondents assessed that the community empowerment programmes provided tangible benefits for improving welfare, while also giving a positive assessment of the company’s efforts to support national energy security and environmental conservation. More than 90% of respondents stated they were ready to support the sustainability of PHR’s operations, maintain harmonious relations with the company, and were willing to disseminate positive information about the empowerment programmes that have been implemented. In addition to showing a high level of satisfaction, the community also expressed hope that the programmes would continue to be developed, particularly through strengthening MSMEs, providing sustainable business mentoring, and expanding market access so that the economic benefits can be felt more widely. ‘The company’s strategy to support operations through community empowerment has proven to have a significant impact. The support from our fostered partners encourages us to continue empowering communities around our operational areas,’ said Iwan Ridwan Faizal.