Pertamina Supports Indonesian Cyclists Participating in Paris-Brest-Paris 2023, Testing Bamboo Bicycle Durability

Denpasar, August 23, 2023 - On August 20, three Indonesian cyclists participated in the world's oldest long-distance cycling event, Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) 2023. Interestingly, these three Indonesian cyclists used bamboo bicycles, part of the Indonesian Bamboo Bicycle Global Campaign, a joint program by Pertamina, the Sustainable Bamboo Foundation (YBLL), and Spedagi.

Fadjar Djoko Santoso, Vice President of Corporate Communication at Pertamina, stated that these Indonesian cyclists' participation is part of the "Pedal for the Earth" initiative to introduce innovative bamboo products and promote green mobility and green energy acceleration adoption in Indonesia.

"These three cyclists are testing the bamboo bicycles' durability on a global stage, showcasing Pertamina's strong support in reducing carbon emissions through this event," Fadjar said.

First held in 1891, Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) has evolved into a global event that became randonneurs' (long-distance cyclists) dream from all around the world.

PBP follows a self-supported rule, which means participants are prohibited from receiving assistance from external parties during the journey. Various challenges faced, including bike damage, must be handled independently by the participants. Participants should manage their pace and speed to complete the 1200 km route within the maximum limit of 90 hours.

PBP is known as one of the most prestigious bicycle touring events globally. Approximately 6000 participants will attend the PBP in 2023.

Regarding bamboo in Indonesia, YBLL and Spedagi are designing bamboo bicycles that can be mass-produced at an affordable price, aiming to promote the cycling movement for students in Indonesia's rural areas.

Monica Tanuhandaru, Chairperson of YBLL, stated that the bamboo bicycle is the right moment to introduce Indonesia's bamboo potential to the world. "The presence of bamboo bicycles at the Paris-Brest-Paris event has the potential to accelerate Indonesia's energy transition," she concluded.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations.**