Energy companies come under hard scrutiny for corporate citizenship because of the significant damage they can cause if they don’t take their responsibilities seriously. Rico Rustombi talks about Indika Energy’s commitment to professional excellence and environmental stewardship, and how good corporate governance means creating a balance between economic and social goals.

The New Economy: What does good corporate citizenship mean to you at Indika Energy?

Rico Rustombi: Well, good corporate citizenship is about commitment, and commitment is what makes the difference. It is as simple as that: commitment to professional excellence and responsible stewardship in all its endeavour is the key.

Indika Energy believes that no company can sustain operation in the long term without effective corporate governance. It will ensure consistently solid operational performance, providing added value to its stakeholders.

The New Economy: What is Indika’s place within Indonesia’s energy sector?

Rico Rustombi: Well, Indika energy is a leading integrated energy company, providing its customers with total energy solutions in the areas of energy resources, energy services, and energy infrastructures. Which covers coal production, oil and gas epc, contract mining, coal transport and logistics, as well as power generation projects.

Our portfolio businesses combine with our local knowledge expertise and strong industry reputation enable us to provide complementary products and services to domestic and international customers; thereby positioning us to capture growth opportunities across the Indonesian energy sectors.

With this strong integration along the whole energy supply chains has been the main driver of Indika Energy. We believe that with more diversified investor base, Indika Energy is about to realise its vision to become a world-class integrated energy company, and become the pride of Indonesia.

The New Economy: You’ve been expanding primarily through acquisitions, and you recently brought PT Petrosea into the company. What’s the story there?

Rico Rustombi: Petrosea’s stellar performance has further affirmed the value and synergy brought by the group’s acquisition. Through this acquisition we expanded our energy service segment, mainly in mining contracting activities, and also harnessing the expertise in our construction and engineering capabilities, which can be channelled in support of the core business.

The acquisition of Petrosea marked the highlight of our pursuit to strengthen the business position, create synergy for growth, and completed the company’s energy value chains.

We have emerged as one of the few Indonesian companies capable of providing a complete mining solution: from pit to port using in-house resources.

The New Economy: And how vital is good corporate governance for a large company with diversified assets like Indika?

Rico Rustombi: We believe that no company can sustain operation in the long-term without effective corporate governance.

Eventually, it’s a part of a much larger picture that differentiates the performance level of companies within their respective industries.

For that reason, Indika Energy consistently strives to surpass existing standards; not only in the energy sector, but also in the environmental concerns and corporate social responsibility.

Once again, commitment is what makes the difference: here, good corporate governance is to create a balance between economic and sociological goals, as well as between individual and communal objectives.

The New Economy: You’ve touched on social responsibilities; what is Indika’s approach to this area?

Rico Rustombi: At Indika energy, corporate social responsibility is an important core value, which forms an integral part of the company’s cultures. Through synergistic strategy, our presence is not solely to enhance Indonesia’s energy sectors, but also to give back to the people of Indonesia.

Indika’s CSR programmes are focused in health, education, community development, and environmental issues. One of these programmes, to teach of Indonesia movement, what we call Indonesia manager, was initiated in 2010. It immediately mobilised 120 best scholars newly graduated from the top university in Indonesia to teach in elementary schools in more than 100 villages from east to west in Indonesia. Where quality educational facilities and educators are lacking, this programme’s goals are to empower them through better education.

Indika Energy last but not least is a corporation with a strong commitment to stewardship; not only within our business sectors, but beyond – into the community and natural environment in which we all exist together.

The New Economy: Rico Rustombi, thank you very much.