BATURAJA – For almost five decades, PT Semen Baturaja Tbk (SMBR) as a subsidiary of PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (SIG) has been present for the country. It has gone through various challenges and dynamics, but SMBR continues to progress and transform to become stronger by joining SMBR as part of the GIS ecosystem.

Celebrating 49 years of age, SMBR held a peak anniversary event with the theme “Synergy & Harmony”. The celebration was held at the Wisma Ganesha Factory Hall in Baturaja on Tuesday (14/11). Previously, SMBR had carried out various activities including fashion shows, badminton tournaments, gaple competitions, quizzes, tennis, SMBR Idol, basketball, futsal and E-Sport which were participated by Internal and External.

This event was attended by the Board of Commissioners including Main/Independent Commissioner Alex Iskandar Munaf and Commissioner Inosentius Samsul who attended offline. Apart from that, Commissioner Hadi Daryanto and Independent Commissioner Chowadja Sanova were also present online. Also present at this event were the SMBR Directors, including Main Director Suherman Yahya, Director (Operations Function) Muhammad Syafitri, and Director (Finance & HR Function) Rahmat Hidayat, as well as participation from the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda). Not only that, SIG Main Director Donny Arsal also participated online in this event.

SMBR Main Director Suherman Yahya in his speech said that this anniversary celebration carried the theme “SMBR Synergy and Harmony”. This theme describes cooperation, enthusiasm and willingness to share opinions to create innovative solutions to create a more advanced Indonesia for the progress of infrastructure development, especially in the South Sumatra region.

“Hopefully on this 49th anniversary, all SMBR people will continue to be enthusiastic to continue to provide their best performance for the company’s progress and always apply AKHLAK values as the foundation in every company business process,” he said.

Meanwhile, the new President Commissioner Alex Iskandar Munaf was elected on November 8 2023 based on the results of the decision of the SMBR Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (EGMS). He received the mandate to become the Main Commissioner of SMBR.

“Thank God, I was entrusted to be the Main Commissioner of SMBR. “The first time I set foot at SMBR also coincided with a very special day, the 49th anniversary of SMBR,” said Alex in his speech.

Alex continued, I hope that the new Board of Commissioners and Directors can continue the cooperation and enthusiasm that has been fostered by the Board of Commissioners and Directors in the previous period.

“God willing, SMBR will be even more successful, more existing, more sturdy and durable,” he added.

SIG President Director Donny Arsal congratulated and expressed his highest appreciation for the positive performance and achievements achieved by SMBR in 2023.

“Thank you to all people at SMBR, both from management and all employees for their efforts and hard work so that the company remains more solid and better in facing challenges in 2023,” said Donny Arsal in his speech.

In commemoration of the peak of the 49th anniversary, SMBR provided CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) assistance in the form of educational compensation to residents in Ring 1 at 3 operational locations  Palembang, Baturaja and Panjang. Then assistance to the Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency Government for the Environmental Service Program, Fisheries and Livestock Service, Rescue & Fire Department and District Education Service. OKU. Furthermore, educational assistance assistance from the Semen Baturaja Employee Wives Association (IIKSB) to students from Ring 1 Baturaja Residents. The total amount of assistance and compensation provided is IDR. 553,750,000.-.

Apart from that, SMBR also gave Loyal Work awards to 31 employees. The award is given as appreciation for the service of employees who have worked for 10 years.

Not only that, the SMBR History Book Review event previously successfully carried out the Soft Launch of the SMBR History Book on October 28 2023 in Jakarta. The event featured speakers who were directly involved in the initial events in the formation of the SMBR journey story, including Iwa Kartiwa as an SMBR employee with NIK (Employee Identity Number) 001 and Iwan Bestari with NIK 002.

Iwa Kartiwa tells the story of the journey when SMBR experienced a difficult phase amidst factory construction conditions. Since it was first established in November 1974, problems have occurred, the bureaucratic process is convoluted and the situation at that time where the rupiah exchange rate was being devalued quite severely due to the KNOP 15 policy implemented by the New Order government.

“The Yendaka phenomenon has resulted in the process of building the Baturaja Semen factory being stalled, because at the construction stage imported raw materials are needed, devaluation makes plans to build the factory more expensive and risk stalling,” he said.

Furthermore, employee with NIK 002, Iwan Bestari, added that since the beginning of the planning, PTSB (which is now called SMBR) was designed to build factories in three areas, namely Baturaja, Palembang and Panjang (Lampung).

“It’s just that building a factory in the Baturaja area requires different attention compared to the other two factories in Palembang and Panjang. “Because in Baturaja the pioneers had to clear the ground, understandably the area was still a thicket forest with various wild animals in it,” said Iwan.

The story of SMBR’s journey is summarized in one book containing 364 pages. The author and the writing team have interviewed more than 30 sources, from across generations of directors, former employees, commissioners, stakeholders and levels of society.

Famous figures interviewed included National Figure Azwar Anas, former Director and founder of SMBR. Former Member of the DPR/RI Marzuki Alie, Pamudji Rahardjo, Main Director who succeeded in bringing SMBR to the floor on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI). Until Daconi Khotob brought the company in the transition period to SIG.

SMBR Main Director Suherman Yahya said that this history book indicates that SMBR is half a century old. This story is not just documentation but a form of appreciation and respect for the pioneers of the founding of SMBR.

At a glance at SMBR’s performance, up to the third quarter of 2023, SMBR’s financial performance is very good, where revenue is 10% higher compared to last year and net profit reached IDR 54 billion or an increase of 25% compared to last year. Good financial performance is of course supported by marketing performance, where cement sales volume increased 9% compared to last year, white clay sales were achieved the same as last year’s achievements. With this increase in sales, the Company succeeded in increasing its market share by 1% in the South Sumatra region.(*)