Press Release

Tanjung Enim, October 23, 2026 — Strengthening the competence and preparedness of emergency response teams is essential to maintaining operational safety in the mining industry. PT Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk (PTBA), a member of the MIND ID Mining Industry Holding, continues to enhance the capabilities of its Emergency Response Team (ERT) to ensure a prompt, accurate, and coordinated response to various emergency scenarios.

One of these efforts is PTBA ERT’s participation in the 2026 Indonesia Mining Emergency Response Community (IMERC). The team achieved three accomplishments, up from two in the 2025 edition. This progress provides a foundation for ongoing evaluation and the continuous development of personnel capabilities.

PTBA President Director Bambang Ismawan emphasized that personnel preparedness and competence are essential to maintaining the company’s operational safety.

“At PTBA, safety is a priority that must be supported by personnel readiness, strong technical skills, and effective coordination. Through participation in IMERC, we hope our ERT will continue to develop its capabilities, learn from other teams’ experiences, and apply these lessons to strengthen preparedness in responding to emergencies,” said Bambang.

Held on August 6–9, 2026, at the Garuda Rescue Nusantara (GRN) training and simulation facility in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, IMERC 2026 provided PTBA ERT with an opportunity to test its technical skills, physical and mental resilience, decision-making abilities, and communication and coordination effectiveness under pressure.

Under the theme “Face Up,” the event brought together 24 ERTs from Indonesia and Australia to take on challenges designed to simulate emergency situations in mining areas and supporting facilities. The challenges covered vehicle accident rescue, underwater and vertical rescue, confined space rescue, firefighting, and individual skills.

Beyond testing participants’ capabilities, the event served as a platform for sharing experiences and learning emergency response methods from other companies, including international participants. These insights can inform improvements to training programs, simulations, and emergency response procedures at PTBA.

PTBA recognizes that preparedness extends beyond mastering skills during training or competitions. Personnel capabilities must be continuously developed through regular evaluations and exercises to ensure they can be applied effectively in real-world situations. Accordingly, the experience gained at IMERC forms part of PTBA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen professionalism and enhance ERT readiness for actual emergencies.

IMERC is a platform for collaboration and competency development in emergency response within the mining sector, built around three pillars: Challenge, Training, and Charity. In addition to the competition, the event featured Incident Management Training led by instructors from Australia to deepen participants’ understanding of incident management and decision-making. The Charity pillar was also reflected in the donation presented to the Al-Firdaus Orphanage in South Kalimantan.

Through continuous competency development, PTBA is committed to building an emergency response team that is competent, resilient, professional, and adaptable. These efforts are expected to foster a stronger safety culture and enhance the company’s readiness to respond to various emergency situations.

For PTBA, the true value of training and competitions lies in applying the lessons learned to improve workplace readiness. In an emergency, appropriate actions, solid coordination, and a swift response are crucial to protecting lives.