PetroChina International Jabung Ltd. handed over a community center built for Suku Anak Dalam community in Batanghari Regency, Jambi. Field Manager Jabung John Halim represented PetroChina management during the handover ceremony, attended by Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, in Sungai Terab hamlet, Jelutih Subdistrict, Bathin XXIV District, on March 16, 2022. Jambi Deputy Governor Abdullah Sani, Jambi House of Representative Speaker Eko Purwanto, Batanghari Regent M. Fadhil Arief, and SKK Migas Southern Sumatra Spokesperson Andi Arie Pangeran also attended the event.

Apart from constructing the community center in Sungai Terab for around 100 families of SAD community in the area, PetroChina also provided the electricity and clean water source, regular check-up, and medical supplies for the members of community and Covid-19 vaccination.

PetroChina started designing empowerment programs for SAD community in 2019. Working together with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Sarolangun Administration, PetroChina provided clean water and sanitation facilities for 47 SAD families in Gurun Tuo Subdistrict and 34 families in Pulau Lintang Subdistrict, both were in Sarolangun Regency. As part of the follow-up program, PetroChina provided alternative livelihood training of catfish and cattle farming for SAD community in Gurun Tuo. The empowerment program was expected to provide a steady source of income for those families.

In Bukit Suban, also in Sarolangun, PetroChina built two community centers, each for health and education purpose, and supported regular medical check-up for members of the community.

Known as nomadic community, SAD people traditionally live in the deep Sumatran forests. They live in a small group called rombong led by a man called tumenggung. The SAD people don’t stay permanently in an area and live in temporary shelter made from wood. Over the years, some groups decided to settle permanently in some housing complex provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs, while other groups remain as nomad.

The Ministry has collaborated with other organizations and private sector in providing various empowerment programs, especially to provide better health and education access to SAD people. In October 2019, the Ministry named PetroChina’s program for SAD as one of three pilot projects for community empowerment in Indonesia.

In November 2020, the empowerment program for SAD won Padmamitra Award, one of the highest recognitions for social program for private companies, from the Ministry of Social Affairs.