PANGKALPINANG – As part of its commitment to environmental responsibility, PT Timah Tbk continues to proactively carry out reclamation activities aimed at restoring ecosystems.
The reclamation carried out by PT Timah is not just an obligation but a concrete step by the company in maintaining environmental sustainability. PT Timah conducts land and marine reclamation in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province, Riau Province, and Riau Islands Province.
In implementing reclamation, PT Timah not only ensures ecosystem sustainability but also provides benefits to the surrounding community. Community involvement has become one of the keys to the company’s reclamation success.
The long-term benefits of the company's reclamation program include job creation through reforestation and reclamation land management programs, the provision of productive land for agriculture, fisheries, and other economic activities, as well as improving environmental quality by restoring biodiversity in former mining areas.
One form of land reclamation includes revegetation with fast-growing plants, fruit plants, and other forms of reclamation. From 2015 to 2023, PT Timah has reclaimed a total land area of 3,166.37 hectares.
PT Timah collaborates with local communities and village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) to implement reclamation. For example, in Belitung Island, PT Timah has partnered with BUMDes Selinsing to carry out alternative reclamation projects at Kampong Reklamasi Selinsing.
Chairman of BUMDes Selinsing, Diky Afriansyah, stated that Kampong Reklamasi Selinsing has also become an educational tourism destination for both local communities and tourists.
The environmental management program run by PT Timah at Kampong Reklamasi Selinsing, which is part of its alternative reclamation efforts, not only rehabilitates former mining land but also empowers the local economy.
Diky explained that BUMDes Selinsing has felt the economic benefits of Kampong Reklamasi Selinsing, as they are involved in management and earn income from operating the area.
"The economic impact is already felt, especially when it was at its peak. We also involve local MSMEs to provide food for visitors," he said, as quoted from a previous report.
Additionally, PT Timah has collaborated with the Air Limau Village Government in West Bangka to carry out reclamation by planting oil palm, which provides economic benefits to the community and generates village income.
The Head of Air Limau Village, Mexsi Diansah, said that PT Timah's reclamation program in their village has started to yield results.
"A total of 7.04 hectares of former mining land has been restored with organic enrichment, turning it into green land planted with productive, harvest-ready oil palm trees," he stated.
According to him, the success in managing the former mining land is also due to the support and guidance from PT Timah Tbk.
"The selection of oil palm plants was the village government’s decision, ensuring that what is planted generates value for the village's original income. This way, Air Limau Village will no longer be dependent on central government fund transfers. The reclamation by PT Timah has thus become a productive source of income," he explained.
Mexsi added that his village still has great potential for further development and hopes PT Timah will continue to support them.
"We have unused former mining pits that, if utilized, could empower the community through fish farming. We hope PT Timah can help transform these pits in the future," he said.(*)
