PANGKALPINANG -- A firsthand look at mining operations gave nine university students participating in the 2026 Mineral and Coal Ambassadors Goes to Site program a new perspective on the tin mining industry, particularly the operations of PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk.
Over five days, from September 29 to October 3, 2026, PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk took the participants to visit various Company facilities and programs, providing insights into everything from mining operations to the Company’s contributions to communities and the environment.
The visit gave students from various universities an opportunity to gain a closer understanding of how PT TIMAH conducts its business processes, while also observing the implementation of Good Mining Practice (GMP), environmental management, and community empowerment programs across the Company’s operational areas.
The series of visits began at the Indonesia Tin Museum, where participants learned about the long history of the tin industry and tin mining in Bangka Belitung.
The journey continued to Kampoeng Reklamasi Air Jangkang. At this location, the students saw firsthand how post-mining land is not simply abandoned, but rehabilitated and developed through various reclamation and land utilization programs. They also visited the Alobi Wildlife Rescue Center (PPS).
The participants also had the opportunity to observe offshore tin mining operations during a visit to a Production Suction Dredger (KIP). They gained a closer look at how mining activities are carried out while learning about the stages of environmental management and monitoring involved in mining operations.
The visit then continued to tin processing and smelting facilities, where participants observed how tin ore produced through mining activities is subsequently processed into tin metal.
Beyond learning about its business processes, the Mineral and Coal Ambassadors were also introduced to PT TIMAH’s contributions to local communities. They visited the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village, where the Company supports efforts to preserve local traditions and culture.
The students also witnessed PT TIMAH’s free healthcare services and visited Pemali Boarding School (PBS), one of the Company’s education programs that provides students with opportunities for academic learning and personal development.
One of the Mineral and Coal Ambassador participants, Arkan Jihadi Asyrof, a third-semester Electrical Engineering student at Balikpapan State Polytechnic, said the program provided him with new experiences.
According to Arkan, the most memorable part of the visit was seeing mining activities firsthand, particularly during visits to the onshore mining site and the Production Suction Dredger.
“The most interesting part of the visit was seeing the mining process firsthand. This was my first time seeing tin mining operations, especially offshore mining. I was able to see the differences between onshore and offshore mining processes,” he said.
For Arkan, the visit also changed his perspective on the mining industry. Before participating in the Mineral and Coal Ambassadors program, he said much of the information he had encountered about mining focused primarily on its environmental impacts.
However, after observing the Company’s activities firsthand, he gained a better understanding that mining operations also involve environmental management and post-mining programs.
“Previously, I thought mining mostly caused environmental damage. But after participating in the Mineral and Coal Ambassadors program, I realized that mining is not that simple. There are post-mining processes and land reclamation efforts being carried out,” he said.
He was also impressed by PT TIMAH’s education program at Pemali Boarding School. The students’ enthusiasm and the opportunities provided through the program allowed him to see another aspect of the Company’s contributions.
“I saw how the Company has an education program. When I met the students at Pemali Boarding School, they were very enthusiastic. It was a valuable experience and broadened my perspective, showing me that the Company also pays attention to education within the community,” he said.
Arkan said the experience gave him a more comprehensive understanding of mining. In his view, the mining industry is not only about extracting natural resources, but also involves environmental management, community empowerment, education, healthcare, and cultural preservation.
A similar view was shared by Gitta Valerinova, a Geological Engineering student at the University of Lampung. She said she gained extensive new knowledge after visiting various PT TIMAH operational sites and programs.
“During the visit, we went to various locations and saw how tin mining processes are carried out, including offshore mining,” she said.
According to Gitta, one aspect that particularly caught her attention was how PT TIMAH conducts its mining operations while continuing to consider environmental aspects.
She was especially interested in mining activities using the Production Suction Dredger, environmental management initiatives such as artificial reefs, and PT TIMAH’s education program through Pemali Boarding School.
“What interested me most was the mining operations aboard the suction dredger, the artificial reefs, and PT TIMAH’s scholarship program at Pemali Boarding School, which provides students with opportunities to pursue their dreams,” she said.
For Gitta, observing the Company’s business processes firsthand provided a different experience from learning about mining solely through theory or information circulating among the public.
Through the Mineral and Coal Ambassadors program, PT TIMAH, together with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), provides young people with an opportunity to gain a more objective understanding of the mining industry by seeing its processes firsthand. (*)
