The Community Development and Empowerment (PPM) program is an integral part of PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals (NHM) operational activities. It aims to contribute to the development of the areas surrounding the company’s operational site, particularly in 83 villages across five districts: Kao, Kao Teluk, Kao Barat, Kao Utara, and Malifut.
NHM follows the guidelines outlined in the PPM Blue Print document, which was compiled by the Provincial Government and officially ratified through the Decree of the Governor of North Maluku on January 13, 2021, in Tobelo. Additionally, the company has developed a PPM Master Plan Document, which received technical approval from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on December 30, 2020.
The PPM programs encompass a wide range of activities that focus on different aspects. These include education, health, improving the real income level and livelihood of the community, fostering economic independence, promoting social and cultural development, preserving the environment, and establishing community institutions that support self-sufficiency. Furthermore, the PPM program also includes the development of supporting infrastructure to facilitate its initiatives.
Education
Enhancing the region’s development relies on the presence of intelligent and globally competitive human resources. To facilitate the region in nurturing its future generation, the company extends scholarships to children residing in proximity to the mining site. As of March 2021, the company has awarded scholarships to a total of 1,527 students residing in the vicinity of the mining ring. This initiative enables these students to pursue their undergraduate and postgraduate programs at different universities across Indonesia.
To facilitate the enhancement of education standards and ensure the uninterrupted progress of educational endeavors in the mining ring area, the company extends its support through financial aid to contracted teachers across all educational levels, including kindergarten, elementary, junior, and senior high schools. Additionally, the company offers school transportation services to students residing in the Malifut, Kao, and Kao Utara districts.
Healthcare
To enhance the health conditions of individuals residing near the mining site, the company provides support to the economically disadvantaged who are facing illness by covering their medical expenses. This assistance is accessible to individuals living in the vicinity of the mining area, as well as communities in North Halmahera and North Maluku who require medical treatment at referral health facilities and hospitals. These referral health facilities and hospitals include the Regional Hospital (RSUD) in Tobelo, RSUD Chasan Boesoiri in Ternate, Siloam Hospital in Manado, and several national hospitals in Jakarta.
The company also places emphasis on enhancing the capabilities of local health cadres in the villages surrounding the mining area. A total of 700 health cadres across five districts have been targeted to receive direct benefits from various programs aimed at building their capacity. The program activities primarily revolve around providing guidance, monitoring, and evaluating the targeted individuals. This training equips health cadres with the skills necessary to offer health advice to their communities, actively participate in local integrated health centers, support village midwives in delivering healthcare services, document instances of illness within their respective villages, and report or follow up on any identified cases to healthcare facilities and professionals.
Moreover, the company acknowledges the importance of healthcare infrastructure and facilities. To enhance the quality of health services available to the communities and facilitate their access to reliable healthcare, the company extends support for the construction of inpatient clinics. These clinics serve as valuable additions to the services provided by local community health centers, particularly by addressing the absence of inpatient services in five health centers across four districts neighboring NHM’s mining site. The activities carried out in the first quarter of 2021 primarily involved identifying suitable locations for the targeted clinics and initiating the process of acquiring the necessary land.
Communities’ Real Income Level
People’s livelihood is the cornerstone of the regional economy, particularly in the domains of trade, agriculture, and plantation. Within the agricultural sector, our company prioritizes programs aimed at expanding agricultural land and enhancing vegetable horticulture productivity. These initiatives are designed to augment the income earned by farmers residing in the mining ring area.
Farmers are being targeted to adopt good agricultural management practices and make significant improvements in their productivity. This includes expanding the area of planted land from 0.1 – 0.25 hectares to 1.00 hectare per group or per village. Moreover, the goal is to achieve a productivity increase of more than 20% for major commodities compared to the previous year within each group. In addition, the aim is to expand the replication of agricultural land from 63 to 126, thereby promoting sustainable farming practices. Furthermore, there is an emphasis on encouraging village administrations to strengthen their commitment to collaborate in their respective village development programs.
The Vocational Training for Youth program, which is a collaborative effort between NHM and the North Maluku Vocational Training Center, was initiated in 2019 in two districts, namely Kao Teluk and Malifut. This program aims to equip the youth in these villages with the necessary skills to enhance their potential and establish independent and sustainable businesses. The training program focuses on developing creative and innovative business skills that align with existing business networks and prospects. It is expected that the participants will gain support and commitment from relevant stakeholders, as well as from the regency and village administrations, to facilitate follow-up actions after the completion of the training.
The company’s Social Performance Department team has actively supported and accompanied trained farmers in enhancing their capacity to supply agricultural and animal farm products to the Gosowong Mining site. This accompaniment program is conducted in three districts situated around the mining ring area, namely Kao Teluk, Malifut, and Kao.
Economic Independence
In the realm of economic independence, various initiatives have been undertaken to bolster capacity development and facilitate local residents’ entry into the realm of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the mining ring area. These endeavors are complemented by other activities aimed at promoting economic self-sufficiency.
Culture and Tradition Support
Through its efforts in the social and cultural sectors, the company strives to enhance the availability of infrastructures and facilities for houses of worship, as well as support the religious activities of the communities. Additionally, the company actively engages in cultural preservation programs and initiatives aimed at safeguarding local wisdom. NHM representatives work closely with local traditional institutions and leaders, fostering coordination and collaboration.
Another significant endeavor in the social and cultural realm is the preservation of the culture and traditions of the Empat Suku (Four Tribes) – Towiliko, Boeng, Modele, and Pagu. This initiative was launched in 2019, recognizing that nurturing and supporting well-established cultures will effectively protect and preserve the local wisdom embedded within the communities of these four tribes, who reside in the vicinity of the company’s operational area.
Furthermore, the company extends its support towards the facilitation of social and community activities. This assistance takes the form of organizing and sponsoring national holiday celebrations and other social events. These initiatives are carried out in collaboration with elements from the district dialogue forum, as well as the communities residing in the vicinity of the mining ring area.
