Pertamina, Indonesia’s national energy company, has notably strengthened its Pertamina safety culture across its extensive oil and gas operations in recent years.

Beyond just compliance, it’s a key strategy to keep operations running smoothly, protect the environment, and ensure public safety.

The company’s efforts gained momentum as it faced both inherent industry dangers and recent investigations that highlighted the need for better ethical oversight alongside strong safety practices.

Pertamina’s wide-ranging work – from exploring oil to refining it and distributing it – means a constant focus on safety is essential. Its deep commitment to safety helps improve overall performance and reliability in the hazardous oil and gas safety Indonesia sector.

Building safety systems and earning certifications

Pertamina’s dedication to safety is part of its overall strategy, focusing on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects. The company’s goal is zero incidents, and its Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIR) of 0.02 shows good progress. Its policies demand the highest Pertamina HSSE standards to prevent accidents and prepare for emergencies.

The company’s safety frameworks align strictly with national roadmaps from the MEMR, which aim to significantly reduce workplace accidents. These roadmaps define different levels of safety culture maturity. In 2023, subsidiary PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) reached a “proactive” safety culture level, meeting national targets.

The company’s commitment is also reinforced by securing international certifications. Many subsidiaries have earned important safety certifications like ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management System) and CSMS (Contractors Safety Management System).

These certifications provide clear, auditable ways to manage safety, drive continuous improvement, and build trust with stakeholders in a high-risk industry. For instance, PT Pertamina Energy Terminal (PET) earned OHSAS 45001-2018 and ISO 1400:2015 certifications for its terminals, showing its dedication to environmental management and workplace safety.

Pertamina also focuses on Process Safety Management (PSM) and Asset Integrity Management (AIM). In 2023, a PSAIMS (Process Safety and Asset Integrity Management System) Audit reviewed how these systems were used at various sites. At the same time, detailed guidelines for Asset Integrity Management were developed to standardise how critical assets are maintained.

PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) added a dedicated Director of Risk Management role after 2023, highlighting its commitment to overall risk oversight. These steps show a shift toward actively preventing risks rather than just reacting to incidents, enhancing oil and gas safety in Indonesia.

Proactive steps and employee involvement

Pertamina actively builds a Pertamina safety culture through various employee engagement and awareness programmes. They know that real safety requires everyone to participate.

For instance, Polytama, which is a part of the Pertamina Group, uses its “OK Card” programme. In 2024, 4,300 cards were collected, documenting potential hazards and unsafe actions. This proactive approach helps prevent accidents and builds a strong safety culture. Team competitions like the “PIP Challenge” also encourage shared responsibility for workplace safety.

Training is also crucial. In 2025, PT Pertamina Training & Consulting ran an Inhouse Training Awareness Pertamina HSSE programme to boost employee understanding. PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan (KPB) held a First Aid Competition, teaching workers vital life-saving skills for emergencies. PHI includes risk management training as part of its “Think on Risk” campaign, designed to improve the company’s overall risk culture.

Big investments in infrastructure also show Pertamina’s commitment to operational safety. A major project is the Buffer Zone at the Balongan Refinery, led by Pertamina CEO Nicke Widyawati. This project expands the buffer area to at least 50 metres from the operational fence, enhancing safety for both staff and the local community.

PET also installed an External Lightning Protection System across its terminals in 2023 and uses green technologies like Shore Power Connection Systems and Vapour Recovery Units, which inherently improve safety by reducing emissions and fire risks. These efforts reinforce oil and gas safety in Indonesia.

Leadership's role and governance

Leadership commitment is key to Pertamina’s safety culture. Executives consistently set “zero incident” goals and actively participate in safety initiatives, like the Balongan Refinery Buffer Zone project. The strong support from the top makes safety a non-negotiable priority throughout the organisation. Establishing dedicated risk management roles and following accountability structures, like the “Three Lines of Defence” model, embeds risk awareness into daily decisions.

Performance and challenges

Pertamina closely tracks its safety performance using key indicators. PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE) reported over 5.5 million safe working hours in 2024 with no fatalities, and Polytama logged over 25 million safe working hours without major accidents. PT Pertamina Internasional EP (PIEP) reported zero Lost Time Incident (LTI) and Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) by the end of 2023. These numbers, along with “Zero Accident Awards” to various subsidiaries, confirm their strong safety records in oil and gas safety Indonesia.

However, Pertamina operates in a complex environment. The ongoing Attorney General’s Office (AGO) investigation into alleged corruption in crude oil and refinery product management, leading to arrests and significant financial losses, has greatly affected public trust.

These high-profile integrity issues show a direct link: ethical breakdowns can compromise safety procedures and quality control. Addressing these governance problems is vital for a truly deep-seated Pertamina safety culture.

Internally, managing more carry-over projects and new investments also brings challenges, risking production losses and potentially impacting safety-related investments if not managed carefully.

Building a continuously improving safety culture

Pertamina's journey toward a generative safety culture – one that constantly improves and proactively manages hazards – requires ongoing effort.

The company's progress in achieving proactive safety culture levels and its continuous investment in training and employee engagement show it understands this well, particularly in Pertamina HSSE.

Moving forward, Pertamina must keep strengthening ethical conduct, ensuring clear accountability, and prioritising safety, even when facing operational or financial pressures.

Learning from internal issues and outside scrutiny, and adapting its safety strategies, will be crucial for Pertamina to continue fostering a safety-first culture and remain a leader in safety excellence in the global energy sector.