PTK Continues Coastal Clean Up Programme, Educates Students on Protecting Tangkoko Beach

PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental (PTK) has continued its Coastal Clean Up programme, now in its third year, by holding a beach clean-up and environmental education event for primary school students at Tangkoko Beach in Bitung, North Sulawesi. Through the programme, PTK seeks to instil early awareness of the importance of preserving coastal areas as part of the sustainability of marine ecosystems and maritime economic activities. PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental Acting President Director Eko Cahyadi said this year’s activities not only focused on collecting rubbish but also on building young people’s understanding so that environmental awareness continues. ‘Our activity may only last one day, perhaps half a day. But how do we ensure this is sustainable? The important thing is to educate and teach the next generation the importance of protecting the sea and beaches. We want this activity not to be merely ceremonial, but to be able to increase public awareness,’ Eko said at Tangkoko Beach, Bitung, on Friday (18/7/2026). According to him, PTK, which operates in the maritime services sector, has a responsibility to protect the sea because the company’s operational sustainability depends on the condition of coastal ecosystems. ‘As a company that grows and develops with the sea, we believe our business sustainability is highly dependent on the sea. Therefore, preserving the coast is also our responsibility,’ he said. PTK’s Coastal Clean Up programme has been running since 2023, targeting several coastal areas in Indonesia. In 2023, the activity was held in Tanjungmas Village, Semarang, involving around 1,800 participants and yielding nearly four tonnes of waste. The action was estimated to contribute to an emission reduction of approximately 1.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). The programme then continued in Kulon Progo, Special Region of Yogyakarta, in 2024, collecting 28 tonnes of waste, and at Teluk Penyu Beach, Cilacap, in 2025, involving more than 1,172 participants. Cumulatively, from 2023 to 2025, the programme collected 37.82 tonnes of waste with the participation of over 3,972 people. PTK estimates the actions contributed to an emission reduction of 31.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), equivalent to the household waste generated by 68 families in one year. Eko said Tangkoko Beach was chosen because it is part of the Coral Triangle area, which has high marine biodiversity, and is located around the operational area of the Bitung Integrated Terminal. Besides being a conservation area with endemic animal habitats such as tarsiers and yaki, the area is also considered to have great potential as a tourist destination. ‘We see this beach as very beautiful and has the potential to become a tourism area. Therefore, coastal preservation must be maintained so that the economic benefits generated can also be felt by the community,’ he said. In addition to the beach clean-up, PTK provided environmental education to primary school students and distributed school supply packages to support learning activities at the start of the new academic year. The programme involved Pertamina Patra Niaga, the Bitung Port Authority (KSOP), the Bitung City Environmental Agency, the Sea Soldiers community, local government, and the surrounding community. Head of Administration at KSOP I Bitung Mukminin said the activity aligns with the mandate of Law Number 17 of 2008 on Shipping, particularly regarding the protection of the maritime environment and pollution prevention. ‘We hope this activity provides maximum benefit because the protection of the maritime environment is closely linked to the sustainability of marine ecosystems and human life,’ he said. PTK confirmed that the corporate social and environmental responsibility programme will continue in various coastal areas of Indonesia. The company hopes that educating the younger generation and collaborating with various stakeholders will strengthen efforts to preserve the coast while supporting the sustainability of the maritime economy.