Local Heroes Become Spearheads in Raising Regional Economy

Palembang – PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), member of MIND ID or Mining Industry Indonesia, the Holding State-Owned Enterprise for the Mining Industry, strengthens the empowerment of the local economy through the approach of Local Heroes in the Dream Village or Desa Impian program.

This model becomes an important foundation in ensuring long term benefits, whether social as well as economy, in the operational territories of the Company.

PTBA’s Sustainability Division Head, Dedy Saptaria Rosa, stressed that Local Heroes are not only recipients of assistance, but agents of change empowered with technical ability, business skills, as well as market acess through the cooperative institution.

“Local Heroes have proven to accelerate program sustainability with the ability to transfer knowledge, build local business units, and connect communities to wider supply chains,” he said during the MediaMIND Socialization at Sriwijaya University, Palembang, Thursday (28/8/2025). 

Local Heroes are facilitated through training, accompaniment, and the cooperative institutions so that they can be economically independent.

The Company also involved public figures from various backgrounds, including former perpetrators of illegal mining, low income people, as well as housewives from underprivileged families who are concerned with regional development.

Dedy explained that the impact of the program can clearly be seen. Before intervention, many non-productive land have the potential to become illegal mining locations, while agricultural practice is still manual and inefficient.

After the program ran, the land changed into an eco-agrotomation based integrated agricultural center, making use of the Solar Power Plant (PLTS) for irrigation, as well as belt conveyor for agricultural infrastructure.

The transformation raises productivity, lower costs, and reduces pressure towards illegal practice.

Up to 2024, the Dream Village program has covered 80 benefit recipients with a collective turnover of Rp3.05 billion per year. 

Household income increased to Rp3-10 million per month, while 50 former illegal miners managed to switch to legal livelihoods.

The program also used 12.5 ton waste belt conveyor in 2024 with cost efficiency of Rp70.7 million, as well as adopt Solar Power Plant (PLTS) which reduces carbon emissions of 2.28 tons of CO₂ per annum.

There are also true stories among the Local Heroes. Andi Sofyan, for instance, led the KTH Bina Jaya Lestari (Forest Farmers Group), now supplying reclamation seedlings and organic vegetables; the group’s cooperative has supported social activities of the village.

While Fathul Huda developed a digital based ecotourism package, elevating the educational visits while at the same time, opening new income for local UMKM or Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.

PT Bukit Asam stressed its commitment to expand the coverage of Dream Village or Desa Impian, strengthening the capabilities of Local Heroes, as well a integrating community products to a wider value chain.

“In future, Local Heroes will continually be the mover of social responsibility programs, allowing more regions to be capable of independently building civilization and be competitive,” said Dedy.

During the opportunity, MIND ID Division Head of CSR, Satya Nugraha, asserts that the development of local people capabilities is a crucial matter for the MIND ID Group.

With collaborative social responsibility programs, we show that the success of the company is not only measured by profit, but also by actual contribution towards public welfare,” he emphasized.