press release 118 meters drill, clean water for Minas Timur
SKK Migas aid – PT CPI
Pekanbaru, June 23, 2020 — Access to clean water has been an ongoing challenge in Riau, especially during the dry season. But for more than 200 villagers in Lukut Village, Minas Timur, relief has come. A well and clean water tank have been built in their village through an aid program from SKK Migas – PT. Chevron Pacific Indonesia (PT CPI).
“Hopefully this facility will meet basic needs for clean water access to support the community’s health,” said Sukamto Tamrin, General Manager Corporate Affairs Asset for PT CPI. “We ask that this facility be well taken care of so it can be beneficial for long-term use.” He added that clean water availability is crucial for handwashing and personal hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic. PT CPI plans to build four more wells to support communities near its operations.
On Tuesday, June 23, the well and clean water tank were presented to the Lukut villagers in a ceremony attended by Alfedri, the regent of Siak, and Dr. Mubarak, M.Si., rector of Muhammadiyah Riau University (UMRI).
“Thank you SKK Migas – PT CPI,” Alfedri said, “not just for the clean water program, but also for other programs such as the waste bank, aid such as clothing and bags for children in the Sakai tribe, COVID-19 prevention and others that have been very helpful to the Siak community.”
On the day before the ceremony, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) joined the local community for gotong-royong (GORO) around the well area. Danramil 09/Minas, Captain Inf Sahman Sinaga and his team shared in the work. The GORO program is part of the PT CPI partnership through cooperation with the TNI.
Minas Timur Village has hilly topography that has made finding a water source difficult for the residents. For the clean water program, SKK Migas – PT CPI appointed LPPM UMRI as an executor. In the search for a well point, LPPM UMRI used state-of-the-art technology, such as the Geogreen Water Finder System (GWFS). GWFS is geoelectric technology that measures underground geological characteristics and, with higher accuracy than other methods, aids in locating potential underground water sources.
In Lukut Village, a clean water source was found 118 meters underground. The container tank has a capacity of approximately 30,000 liters. The local community will form a group for facility management and maintenance. UMRI will train all group members to build their own capacity in managing the facility.
This clean water well is valuable for the Minas community, especially in the dry season,” said Khairul, one of the community’s public figures.
In the health field, clean water access is a social investment focus area for PT CPI. SKK Migas – PT CPI has built numerous clean water facilities near its operations. PT CPI also focuses on education and vocational training, local economic development and biosocial environment.