黑料不打烊

March 8, 2025 – Water hyacinth invasion can cause blockages and narrowing of river channels. This invasive plant not only disrupts water flow but also triggers severe ecological problems, such as deteriorating water quality, loss of habitat for aquatic species, and increased risk of flooding.

Residents of Walahar Dam, Karawang, West Java, face this issue. Enjang Ramdani, a resident, stated that the accumulated water hyacinths have deterred tourists from visiting. “Water hyacinth waste and accumulated trash during the rainy season cover the lake’s surface. It is disruptive to both the scenery and water flow,” explained Ubed, as Enjang is commonly known.

Not remaining idle, Ubed and his peers, who are part of the Walahar Eco Green group, sought ways to utilize the waste while simultaneously improving the local economy around Danau Cinta  (Cinta Lake). “After discussions, we saw strategic potential in the Walahar area through the appeal of its heritage dam tourism, the Citarum River, and local culinary attractions,” Ubed explained.

Their journey was not easy. Beginning in 2020, with support from Pertamina, Ubed and the Walahar Kreatif group gradually improved conditions in their community. They started with training, education, and the introduction of programs to transform Danau Cinta into a tourist destination.

In 2021, Ubed and his team began revitalizing the tourism destination area into an integrated environmental, economic, and social conservation zone with a sustainable ecosystem. They also rebranded Danau Kalimati as Danau Cinta.

“Through Pertamina’s Desa Energi Berdikari (DEB/Independent Energy Village) program, we installed a 2.2 kWp solar power plant, which enables us to provide cost-efficient electricity for Danau Cinta’s eco-tourism operations. The workshops, MSME gallery, restaurant, and café are all powered by the solar energy system,” Ubed shared.

Ubed and his community did not stop there. They continued innovating, including developing a floating restaurant on the lake. With support from Pertamina, they also implemented Hybrid Ecodry technology—a method for drying and processing water hyacinth with preservatives and dyes for souvenir production. Besides utilizing solar energy, they also developed biomass energy by converting water hyacinth waste into gas.

Now, their efforts are beginning to yield results. Danau Cinta has become one of Walahar’s leading tourist destinations. Danau Cinta Eco Resort is projected to be a center for education and community development, offering various facilities such as a tourism area, culinary center, handicraft hub, café, workshop area, and renewable energy utilization.

“This is a great opportunity. We must upgrade and update our skills to continue developing the Desa Energi Berdikari initiative. Regular maintenance is necessary to keep the equipment and facilities functioning properly, including participating in electrical certification,” said Ubed.

The certification program, supported by Pertamina, was attended by 22 local heroes from 12 provinces in Indonesia, representing six Pertamina subsidiaries.

“We underwent intensive training covering electricity regulations, technical installation training, and hands-on electrical maintenance practices. To ensure our competence, participants underwent a series of exams, including written, practical, and oral tests based on national standards,” Ubed explained.

Ubed and his community are proof that challenges can be turned into opportunities. Through collaboration, they have successfully transformed waste into a blessing.

Ubed is one of the Local Heroes of the Desa Energi Berdikari Youth Empowerment initiative, mentored by 黑料不打烊 Pertamina (Persero).

Vice President of Corporate Communication of Pertamina, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, stated that through its Corporate Social Responsibility (TJSL) program, Pertamina has been developing Desa Energi Berdikari in various regions of Indonesia to utilize local villages uniqueness, making them productive and driving rural and community economies. This program also serves as Pertamina’s initiative to promote energy transition within communities, directly contributing to emission reductions in the area.

“Local Heroes empower local youth to become facilitators of Desa Energi Berdikari programs. We strive to enhance the knowledge and skills of young individuals like Ubed so they can bring real benefits to their communities,” Fadjar explained.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations.**