Jakarta, September 14, 2026 – PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (“PT Vale”), part of Mining Industry Indonesia (MIND ID), has once again received recognition for its commitment to delivering programs that provide tangible benefits to communities and the environment. At the Innovation and Technology for Social and Environmental Sustainability (InTechSEA) Awards 2026, PT Vale successfully won two Gold Awards in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & Community Empowerment category, respectively for the Food and Maritime sectors.
The awards were received by PT Vale's Vice President Director and Chief Operation and Infrastructure Officer, Abu Ashar, together with PT Vale's Director and Chief Human Capital Officer, Heriyanto Agung Putra, during the InTechSEA Awards 2026 ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta.
For the Gold Award in the CSR & Community Empowerment Category for the Food Sector, the award was presented by the Head of the Sustainable Industrial Systems and Manufacturing Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Ir. Nugroho Adi Sasongko, S.T., M.Sc., MBA, Ph.D., IPU. Meanwhile, the Gold Award in the CSR & Community Empowerment Category for the Maritime Sector was presented by the Head of the Domestic Policy Strategy Agency (BSKDN) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), Dr. Yusharto Huntoyungo, M.Pd.
Carrying the theme “Collaborative Innovation for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future,” the InTechSEA Awards 2026 brought together government institutions, businesses, universities, academics, and innovators to encourage the development and utilization of innovations capable of addressing social and environmental challenges sustainably.
The award ceremony was also attended by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia; Head of the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) Prof. Taruna Ikrar; Acting Head of the Regional Development Planning, Research and Development Agency (Bappelitbangda) of South Sulawesi Province Irawan Dermayasamin Ibrahim; Rector of Hasanuddin University (Unhas) Prof. Jamaluddin Jompa; and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Arsjad Rasjid, along with other industry leaders and stakeholders.
PT Vale's Vice President Director and Chief Operation and Infrastructure Officer, Abu Ashar, stated that the two awards are a form of appreciation for the company’s efforts to ensure that mining activities create broader value for communities.
“For PT Vale, the success of a program does not stop at its implementation, but is determined by the extent to which the program is able to address community needs, create self-reliance, and generate benefits that can be sustained over the long term. This award serves as motivation for us to continue strengthening collaboration and delivering social innovations that are relevant to the characteristics and potential of each region,” said Abu.
Promoting Self-Reliance through Food and Maritime Programs
The Gold Award in the Food Sector was granted for the PONDATA Program: Village Development through the Utilization of Resilient and Natural Land Resources, a program developed by PT Vale to strengthen governance and provide communities with access to knowledge for optimizing unproductive land into economically valuable land through the utilization of local commodities.
With a participatory, integrated, and phased approach, the program involves communities while strengthening collaboration with village governments, local governments, and universities. To date, five hectares of degraded land have been transformed into productive land, including through the planting of 36,000 pineapple trees and 200 dwarf coconut trees.
The PONDATA Program has also encouraged the development of five pineapple-derived products, namely jam, juice, dodol, candied pineapple, and chips. Overall, the program has involved 105 direct beneficiaries and 390 indirect beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the award in the Maritime Sector was earned through the Restoration and Conservation Program for Coastal Areas and Processed Marine Products in Malili District, which focuses on enhancing community participation in responding to changes in coastal and marine ecosystems, while strengthening community resilience against the impacts of climate change and disaster risks.
The program applies an Ecosystem-Based Approach (EBA), an approach that utilizes ecosystem functions and services as part of the solution to various environmental challenges in coastal and marine areas. Its implementation includes the utilization of ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds to support restoration and conservation efforts.
From an economic perspective, the program also promotes empowerment of coastal communities through the development and utilization of processed marine products, ensuring that environmental protection efforts go hand in hand with strengthening community livelihoods.
Both programs reflect PT Vale’s approach in implementing its Community Development and Empowerment Program (PPM), which is not only oriented toward providing assistance, but also toward capacity building, strengthening local institutions, utilizing regional potential, and fostering community self-reliance.
PT Vale Director and Chief Human Capital Officer, Heriyanto Agung Putra, added that sustainable social impact can only be achieved through community involvement and cross-stakeholder collaboration.
“Strong empowerment programs emerge when communities are positioned as a central part of the process, rather than merely as beneficiaries. Therefore, we continue to promote a collaborative approach that brings together the knowledge of communities, government institutions, academics, and various partners to create relevant and sustainable solutions,” said Heriyanto.
Assessed by Judges from Ministries, Institutions, and Academia
The judging process for the InTechSEA Awards 2026 involved judges from various ministries, government institutions, research bodies, and academic circles. They included representatives from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek); Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM); Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan); Ministry of Environment (KLH); Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises; National Commission on Disabilities (KND); PT Produksi Film Negara (Persero) (PFN); National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN); as well as academics from various State Universities (PTN).
The involvement of judges from diverse disciplines formed part of the evaluation process for submitted innovations and programs, including assessment of sustainability aspects, social and environmental impact, innovation, and the potential for program development and replication.
This year’s achievement continues PT Vale’s track record at the inaugural InTechSEA event in 2025. At that time, PT Vale received a Platinum Award through its Cocogrow innovation for Dengen biodiversity conservation, as well as a Gold Award in the Food, Energy and Water category through the Woliko Berkesan program.
For PT Vale, these external recognitions form part of its ongoing journey to continuously improve the quality of community empowerment programs, strengthen sustainable mining practices, and create long-term value for Indonesia and communities surrounding the company’s operational areas.
