The city of Sorong, often called the gateway to Papua, has long been known for its bustling port, oil base, and diverse communities. But on a bright August morning in 2025, the city carried a different kind of excitement. At a modest training hall, 49 young men and women from across Papua gathered nervously, their notebooks ready, their eyes focused, and their hopes higher than the coconut trees swaying outside.
They weren’t there for a regular seminar. For the first time, these Papuan youths would undergo a specialized oil and gas certification program facilitated by PT Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia (Pertamina Drilling). Over the next week, they would learn not only the technical skills needed in the industry but also gain confidence that they too could take part in shaping Indonesia’s energy future.
This was more than a class. It was a bridge—linking Papua’s young generation with opportunities that, for decades, felt far out of reach.
Why Certification Matters: Turning Knowledge Into Opportunity
The training, held from 13 to 15 August 2025, focused on three critical areas:
- OMB (Operator Menara Bor) – Drilling Tower Operator
- OLB (Operator Lantai Bor) – Rig Floor Operator
- H₂S Safety Certification – training in handling hydrogen sulfide, one of the most dangerous substances in drilling operations
From 19 to 21 August, the participants sat for certification exams, joining thousands of Indonesian workers already in the oil and gas industry. But for Papua, this milestone was historic.
For years, the lack of certified professionals meant that companies had little choice but to fly in workers from Java, Sumatra, or Sulawesi. Meanwhile, local youth often stood by as spectators in their own land’s resource sector. Now, with globally recognized credentials in hand, these 49 Papuans can claim their rightful place in the industry.
As Andri Sulistiono, Manager of Rig Operation IV Pertamina Drilling, explained:
“This training is not only about supporting the operations of Rig PDSI #11.2/N80B-M, but also about giving Papuan youth professional recognition so they can contribute directly to the industry.”
It’s a shift from dependency to self-reliance—an opportunity to transform Papua’s role in the energy map of Indonesia.
A Human Story: Dreams Written in Hard Hats
Behind the statistics lies human aspiration.
Take Moses, a 23-year-old from Nabire, who had never left his regency before. When he received word that he had been selected, his family celebrated as if he had already landed a job. “This is not just for me,” he said during the training break, “but for my village. If I succeed, others will believe they can too.”
Then there’s Clara, one of the few women in the program, from South Sorong. Her father was once a fisherman who lost his boat to rising fuel costs. Clara wants to prove that women can stand alongside men in the oil and gas field. Her focus during the H₂S safety drills earned her praise from instructors, who said she demonstrated the calm precision needed in high-risk environments.
These stories embody the wider dream: that Papuans can not only watch Indonesia’s development but also build it with their own hands.
Pertamina’s Bigger Picture: Human Capital as a National Asset
The program in Sorong was not an isolated event. It is part of Pertamina’s broader strategy to develop human capital across Indonesia, especially in resource-rich but skill-gap regions like Papua.
As Meddhenia Ayu Wulandari Yuliastuti, Pertamina Drilling’s Communications Manager, noted:
“Our vision is to align corporate responsibility with national development. Empowering Papuan youth with technical skills benefits the company, the community, and Indonesia as a whole.”
At the national level, this training reflects Indonesia’s policy of energy resilience. For decades, Papua has been known as the land of untapped potential—its vast forests, minerals, and gas fields seen as distant riches. But without local human resources, the wealth flowed outward, not inward.
Pertamina’s Vice President of Corporate Communication, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, emphasized this in his remarks:
“We want Papuan talent to compete in the national energy sector. Certified, skilled workers will not only support local operations but also strengthen Indonesia’s long-term energy independence.”
This approach reframes CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) not as charity, but as capacity building. It’s a model where business growth and community empowerment move hand in hand.
The Training Experience: Sweat, Steel, and Safety
The program itself was rigorous. Each morning began at 7 a.m., with safety briefings followed by technical modules. By noon, the air was filled with the sound of drills, simulations, and questions fired at instructors.
- During the OMB sessions, trainees practiced operating simulated drilling towers, learning how to maintain stability and monitor pressure.
- The OLB course had them lifting, connecting, and dismantling rig components—tasks requiring both muscle and precision.
- Perhaps the most intense was the H₂S safety module, where participants donned masks, practiced evacuation drills, and learned emergency communication protocols.
For many, the training was their first exposure to such high-tech, high-risk environments. Yet, as instructors later admitted, the Papuan youth showed remarkable adaptability.
One trainer even remarked, “They came in with no background but left with discipline and skill that can rival any national standard.”
Community Ripple Effects: Beyond Individual Certificates
The immediate benefit is clear: 49 certified workers ready for deployment. But the ripple effects may prove even more significant.
- Economic Impact: Each trainee who secures employment can support an extended family, multiplying the effect of this training across dozens of households.
- Social Impact: As role models, they inspire younger generations in Papua to pursue education and professional training.
- Industrial Impact: The presence of certified local workers reduces costs for companies, who no longer need to import as many staff from outside regions.
Local leaders in Sorong have already expressed optimism. “This is what we’ve been asking for,” said one community elder. “Do not just take our resources—teach our children how to work them.”
Aligning with National Development Goals
This initiative also aligns with Indonesia’s grand vision of equitable development. Under the government’s push for “Astacita” and continued through the current administration’s focus on Eastern Indonesia development, the goal has always been to reduce regional disparities.
Infrastructure projects like Trans Papua roads and new airports have laid physical foundations. Now, programs like Pertamina’s add the human dimension—ensuring that people, not just roads, can carry the future forward.
Papua’s resource wealth—estimated at billions of dollars in natural gas and minerals—will only create true prosperity if matched with local participation. Pertamina Drilling’s certification program is a small but concrete step in that direction.
Looking Ahead: Seeds for Long-Term Change
For Pertamina Drilling, the success of this first cohort could pave the way for expansion. Imagine not just 49, but hundreds of Papuan youth certified each year. Imagine a training center in Papua itself, eliminating the need to gather in hotel halls. Imagine partnerships with local universities and vocational schools, feeding a steady pipeline of talent into the national energy sector.
For the trainees, the path is just beginning. Some will work on rigs, others may pursue further training, and a few might even return home to share knowledge, starting local workshops or vocational initiatives.
In the long run, this could mark the start of a new professional class in Papua—engineers, technicians, safety officers—people who redefine what it means to be a “Putra Papua” (Indigenous People in Papua) in the 21st century.
Conclusion
As the closing ceremony wrapped up, each of the 49 participants walked across the stage to receive their certificates. The applause was warm, but behind it lay something deeper: a sense of history being written in real time.
These weren’t just pieces of paper. They were keys—to jobs, to dignity, to a place in the nation’s energy future.
For decades, Papua’s story has often been told in terms of what it lacks: roads, schools, doctors, and opportunities. But on that day in Sorong, the story flipped. It became about what Papua can give: skilled, determined, certified workers ready to power Indonesia forward.
And as the sun set on Sorong, one couldn’t help but feel that this was just the beginning.