Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan – December 2024 – On a 2,500-square-meter plot of land near the operational area of PT Borneo Indobara (BIB), a subsidiary of PT Golden Energy Mines Tbk (GEMS) as a coal mining company in South Kalimantan, stands a modest 25-by-8 meter building. Yet from this very spot, a major initiative has emerged, driving the wheels of the local economy: the Integrated Feed Mill, since 2023 has become a milestone in post-harvest transformation and local food security.

This facility not only produces poultry and fish feed–at a maximum capacity of 50,000 kg per month–but also serves as a hub that integrates local agricultural yields with the livestock business needs of communities surrounding the mine.

Managed by a community group under the supervision of a Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes), the feed mill directly benefits 12 households. It not only sources locally cultivated corn and trash fish as its primary raw materials but also plays a strategic role in supporting BIB’s fostered business centers within the first-ring villages of its operational area.

Beyond that, this initiative reduces the community’s dependence on external feed supply sources, which often come with high and fluctuating prices. Through measurable production efficiency, the feed mill’s Cost of Goods Manufactured (COGM) is significantly lower, allowing sales at below-market prices without compromising quality.

To date, a total of 285,984 kg of feed has been produced since 2023, generating around IDR 563 million in revenue. The operational success of the facility has also attracted the attention of financing institutions, with funding support from LPDB KUMKM providing crucial capital for future production scale-up.

From a social impact perspective, the program has achieved a Social Return on Investment (SROI) score of 3.9–strong evidence that it has made a significant contribution to improving community welfare.

BIB is not stopping there. In 2025, it has a strategic expansion plan to build an additional feed mill and a fishmeal factory. This move is expected to meet the entire poultry and fish feed demand of its 22 fostered villages, while further strengthening a collaborative and self-reliant local agribusiness ecosystem.

This feed mill is more than just a production facility–it is a symbol of sustainability, self-reliance, and hope. In the heart of the extractive industry, BIB has proven that mining operations and community development can go hand in hand, delivering tangible benefits to the surrounding environment.

Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan – September 2024 – PT Borneo Indobara (BIB), a subsidiary of PT Golden Energy Mines Tbk, as a coal mining company in Kalimantan, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, officially inaugurated the Andaru Potable Water Treatment Plant (WTP) on Thursday, September 26, 2024, in Banjarsari Village, Angsana District, Tanah Bumbu Regency, Kalimantan. The facility utilizes raw water sourced from the former Andaru mining pit, offering a solution to the region’s drinking water challenges and aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 6 on clean water and sanitation.

The inauguration ceremony was marked by a ribbon-cutting led by BIB’s COO, R. Utoro, alongside representatives from the local government and village heads. The event was also attended by stakeholders including the local health office, public works department, and military representatives. The WTP aims to increase the availability of quality drinking water for surrounding communities, particularly during the dry season when natural water sources often run dry.

This project is part of the second pillar of BIB’s CSR program, which focuses on health and sanitation. Currently, the Andaru Potable Water Plant serves two villages–Banjarsari and Mekar Jaya–and is planned to expand to eight more villages, including Karang Indah and Sebamban Lama, with a target of reaching 18 villages by next year.

The WTP draws raw water from a 34-hectare former mining pit with a capacity of up to 8 million m³. This water is processed into potable water with a production capacity of 1 liter per second, or 3,600 liters per hour. Branded as Potable Water Andaru and carrying the tagline “Flowing Freshness, Refreshing Lives”, the initiative reflects BIB’s hope of bringing a better quality of life to local residents.

Distribution is carried out via water tank trucks and direct pipeline connections to households. Currently, 1,600 household connections (SR) have been installed in Banjarsari and Mekar Jaya. Management of the WTP is entrusted to the Joint Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDesma) of Banjarsari and Mekar Jaya, which is committed to developing the facility into a profitable village enterprise that boosts the local economy.

According to BIB COO R. Utoro, Potable Water Andaru is premium drinking water with a pH of 8.6. This alkaline water is believed to offer health benefits such as neutralizing body acidity and improving metabolism. “We want to give the community the very best—not just safe drinking water, but high-quality drinking water,” said R. Utoro.

The village heads of Mekar Jaya, Joko Wiyono, and Banjarsari, Sutarno, welcomed the project’s development, pledging continued innovation in management, including improvements in packaging and competitive pricing. “We will continue striving to make Potable Water Andaru accessible to all residents at an affordable price,” said Sutarno.

Beyond providing quality drinking water, the Andaru Potable Water Project delivers positive economic impacts through BUMDesma’s local management. It also helps reduce waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid caused by unsafe drinking water.

However, the future challenge lies in ensuring the sustainability of WTP operations. BUMDesma must continue to strengthen its management capacity—both in human resources and technology—while also promoting public awareness on maintaining water source cleanliness.

Potable Water Andaru represents new hope for the people of Tanah Bumbu. With this facility, residents gain access not only to quality drinking water but also to get the sustainable mining benefits.

BIB has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting sustainable development and improving the quality of life for communities around its mining operations. Potable Water Andaru is expected to continue delivering wide-reaching benefits for the people of Tanah Bumbu, Kalimantan.