Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a form of social responsibility undertaken by a company through activities that benefit various parties. On Tuesday (02/04), the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Indonesia (FTUI) and PT Cemindo Gemilang held a meeting to discuss CSR-related cooperation. One of the CSR concepts embraced by PT Cemindo Gemilang is the development of a Photobioreactor to be implemented in public facilities, such as park benches. This facility is expected not only to have aesthetic value but also to serve as a tool for capturing carbon emissions using algae.
Nyiayu Chairunnikma, Head of Marketing at PT Cemindo Gemilang, Tbk, stated, “A nation’s progress cannot be separated from its infrastructure. Many perceive cement companies as sources of dust and environmental pollutants. However, in reality, this perception is not entirely accurate because every cement company that establishes a factory must have an Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) permit as one of its operational requirements.”
Furthermore, Galih Sutrisno, Brand Communication Manager at PT Cemindo Gemilang, Tbk, raised the issue of global warming and the orientation of developed countries towards sustainability. The same applies to Semen Merah Putih, the company’s trademark, which is currently developing environmental and sustainability aspects in its branding strategy. One effort that has been implemented is the inject capturing method, where carbon dioxide (CO2) purchased from the emissions of other factories is injected into the concrete mixture.
To realize the CSR concept, PT Cemindo Gemilang has partnered with FTUI in its research process. This research team involves two departments at FTUI, namely the Department of Architecture and the Department of Chemical Engineering. The team is led by Dr. Miktha Farid Alkadri, S.Ars., M.Ars., a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Architecture at FTUI. During the meeting, the FTUI research team briefly presented the application of the Microalgae Photobioreactor (PBR) to capture CO2 in densely populated urban areas.
“In our implementation, we will conduct research on two types of PBR, namely Tubular and Plat types. We will carry out a series of experiments and analyses to find the most efficient and effective configuration of both types. After successfully finding the optimal configuration, we will design the prototype along with proper maintenance guidelines and implementation strategies in densely populated urban areas,” explained Dr. Mikhta, outlining the research plan.
Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, ST., M.Eng., IPU., provided his response to this collaboration, stating, “The collaboration between FTUI and PT Cemindo Gemilang in developing sustainable public facilities is a positive step towards making a real contribution to the environment and society. By combining academic expertise and industrial resources in one collaboration, there will be more achievements that can be realized.”
Rosmalita, S. Sos., M. Si., representing the cooperation unit at FTUI, secretary of the Cooperation, Venture, and Alumni unit (KVA) at FTUI, and several team members from the Department of Architecture at FTUI, also attended the meeting. This collaboration is expected to be the initial step of FTUI’s contribution towards the development of more sustainable infrastructure for society and the environment.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia
