PANGKALPINANG – PT Timah continues its series of activities to commemorate World Environment Day 2025. This time, the company held a webinar titled “The Ocean Is Not a Trash Bin: Best Practices in Plastic Waste Management on Tin Production Vessels” on Tuesday (June 18, 2025).
The webinar is part of the company’s tangible steps to implement sustainable and environmentally friendly good mining practices, particularly in offshore mining operations.
The event was officially opened by Ryan Andri, General Manager of Operations & Production at PT TIMAH Tbk, and featured speakers including Saviqri Suryaputra, S.T., M.T., and Alles Sandra Tradeli, S.T., from the Directorate of Engineering and Environment, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources; Prof. M. Reza Cordova from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN); and Benny P. Hutahaean, Head of Mining Engineering for North Bangka Area, PT TIMAH Tbk.
In his remarks, Ryan Andri emphasized the importance of protecting the ocean as both a valuable resource and a delicate ecosystem.
“The ocean holds precious mineral resources, but it is also a complex ecosystem whose balance we must protect,” he said.
He added that the webinar is not just ceremonial, but rather a reflection of the mining community’s moral and professional responsibility to actively protect the environment.
“This webinar serves as a platform for education and reflection, aiming to improve sustainable and responsible offshore mining practices,” he continued.
In line with the global World Environment Day 2025 theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution,” PT TIMAH Tbk encourages both reflection and concrete action from its mining personnel to address plastic pollution, especially in the marine areas where the company operates.
Saviqri Suryaputra, S.T., M.T., explained in his presentation that environmental management in mining should not be treated merely as an administrative obligation but as a core corporate strategy.
“Today, it’s no longer enough for mining companies to simply manage reserves. What’s more important is how they demonstrate their contribution to sustainability and build public trust,” he stated.
He also stressed that mining permit holders (IUP holders) carry both legal and moral responsibilities to ensure reclamation and waste management practices comply with approved environmental documents.
Adding to this, Alles Tradeli, S.T., highlighted the importance of a comprehensive and structured approach to plastic waste management on production vessels.
“All vessels over 100 GT must record incoming and outgoing plastic waste. It’s not just about sorting; it involves daily audits, proper storage, disposal processes, and continuous crew education,” he said.
He emphasized the need for zero plastic leakage policies and the involvement of crew members and HSE officers in regular field supervision and control.
“The ship captains and crews are the front liners. Supervision must be carried out through daily and weekly internal audits. This is what we call a beyond compliance approach,” he added.
Meanwhile, Benny P. Hutahaean explained that waste management on production vessels is not just a technical obligation, but part of the company's environmental sustainability commitment.
“We apply the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, conduct daily audits, separate waste onboard, and use renewable energy such as solar panels. Plastic waste collected from beach clean-up activities is delivered to waste banks and exchanged for staple goods for the community,” he said.
He added that every stage of the waste management process—from sorting to reporting—is conducted systematically and reported through the SIMPEL system of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
“We ensure there is no mixing of waste. Everything is separated and labeled: organic, inorganic, and hazardous waste (B3). Everything is recorded and monitored,” Benny stressed.
Prof. Muhammad Reza Cordova of BRIN shared that microplastics have become a real threat to human health, not just an environmental issue.
“On average, Indonesians now ingest about 15 grams of plastic per month, equivalent to three ATM cards, through food, drink, and air. If left unchecked, in two generations people could be ingesting the equivalent of 8,000 ATM cards annually,” he warned.
He explained that microplastics have been found in human blood, brain tissue, and even breast milk. The impacts include hormonal disruption, metabolic disorders, and potential cancer risks.
“Plastic never truly disappears. It only breaks down into smaller particles and enters living organisms. This is a global health crisis,” he emphasized.
Prof. Reza also noted that plastic waste crosses borders via ocean currents and can pollute any coastal region, including areas in Bangka and West Kalimantan.
The webinar was attended by hundreds of participants from PT TIMAH Tbk and its business partners. The event served as both a reflection and a call to action to strengthen responsible mining practices that are adaptive to global environmental challenges. (*)
