Bukit Asam Ombilin Mining provides various assistance to raise local economy. On January 3, 2022, General Manager of Mining Ombilin (PTBA-PO) Yulfaizon handed over coffee bean processing machine to the Tunas Baru Farmer Group, Muaro Kalaban Village, Silungkang District, Sawahlunto.Yulfaizon said that Bukit Asam has a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to help the community. "We are helping these coffee farmers with the aim of increasing crop yields from the start," he said.
Before this assistance, farmers only sold coffee beans, but now they can sell coffee powder. "This has the effect of increasing selling prices. In this way, the welfare of farmers will also be helped," said Yulfaizon.
In addition to the provision of coffee processing machine, Ombilin Mining also sent the farmers to do a comparative study to coffee plantation and processing in Semende, South Sumatra Province.
The head of the Tunas Baru Farmers Group, Abi Candra, expressed his gratitude to Ombilin Mining, because the assistance greatly increased productivity and selling points. “In the past, we tried to process these coffee beans into powder using a blender. However the results are not optimal. Now with the machines from the Ombilin Mining, it is certainly optimal," he said.
Head of the Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries Service (DKP3) of Sawahlunto City, Heni Purwaningsih, said the total area of land being worked on by Keltan Tunas Baru is 8 hectares. “They routinely harvest once every two weeks. For one harvest season or once every six months, the yield can reach 1.5 tons,” she said.
The Mayor of Sawahlunto, Deri Asta, expressed his gratitude to Ombilin Mining and said the assistance of the coffee bean processing machine had complemented other assistance from the Sawahlunto City Government. “This is a synergy in supporting the optimization of the Keltan Tunas Baru Coffee Farm. Sawahlunto City Government provide assistance by opening access roads to agricultural land," he said.
