Muara Enim, June 10, 2022 - To increase the added value of ex-mining land, PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) will build a 17-hectare Botanical Garden. It is hoped that this Botanical Garden can support the community's economy from the tourism sector, in line with PTBA's program to make Tanjung Enim a tourist city.The construction of the Botanical Garden was marked by tree planting by the MIND ID Commissioners, PTBA Commissioners, and all PTBA Directors, also in commemoration of World Environment Day 2022.
MIND ID President Commissioner Doni Monardo, MIND ID Commissioner Ilyas Asaad, MIND ID Commissioner Nicolaus Teguh Budi Harjanto, PTBA Commissioner Piterdono HZ, PTBA President Director Arsal Ismail, PTBA Finance and Risk Management Director Farida Thamrin, Operations Director and Production of PTBA Suhedi, Director of Human Resources of PTBA Suherman, and Director of Business Development of PTBA Rafli Yandra also attended the event.
"The Botanical Garden will later become one of tourist destinations that comes from ex-mining land with added value. This is in line with the Noble Purpose MIND ID and to demonstrate that PTBA is not just a mining company," said PTBA President Director, Arsal Ismail.
Inside the Botanical Garden, there will be archipelago plants coming from all over Indonesia from several bioregions from Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, Java and Bali, Maluku, Sunda Kecil.
"We envision that this Botanical Garden will support the goal of making Tanjung Enim a tourist city. Tanjung Enim should not be abandoned after the mine runs out," said Arsal.
The Botanical Garden will be equipped with various supporting infrastructure such as gates and ticketing, management offices, parking lots, signage, educational buildings, food courts, camping sites, cottages, prayer rooms, public toilets and others, which are all currently under tender process.
MIND ID President Commissioner Doni Monardo in this occasion expressed his appreciation to PTBA that is considered to have implemented Good Mining Practice to minimize environmental damage.
"PTBA is one of the mining companies that cares about environmental aspects. Last year, the company even received a gold proper status. Hopefully, it can continue to be improved," said Doni.
Besides reclamation program, he advised PTBA to develop economically valuable plants on its ex-mining lands.
"This area must be developed to cultivate tree species that have ecological functions with economic value. For example, the eucalyptus oil; Indonesia still imports hundreds of billions rupiah of eucalyptus oil’s raw material every year," Doni said.
Doni handed over hundreds of plant seeds such as Palaka and Torem from Maluku, Pule, and others, including banyan tree, which seeds come from the Presidential Palace, to be planted on PTBA ex-mining land, as a form of concern for the environment. "I asked for the seeds at the Palace. This banyan comes from the Palace," said Doni.
Furthermore, Doni asked PTBA's board of directors to maintain the company’s excellent performance. He also encouraged the development of downstreaming of the mining industry in order to create more added values in the country.
"We would like to express our deepest appreciation to PTBA directors. PTBA is one of the companies that provide large dividends and thus have contributed greatly to the country. We also advise PTBA to always innovate. President Jokowi hopes that the downstreaming project can provide greater added value in the future," he said.
