Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Yogyakarta received a visit from PT. Bukit Asam on March 17th, 2017, at 09.00, which was welcome by the Rector and her personnel on the first floor of the Rector’s Building. In this visit, the Rector was accompanied by the FTM (Faculty of Mineral Technology) Dean, FISP (Social and Political Studies) Dean, the Heads of Mining Engineering Study Program, Geology Study Program, Environment/Ecology Study Program and the Head of LP2M.

In her speech, the Rector of Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Yogyakarta explained that UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta has become a State University since October 6th, 2014. With its status as a state university, the interest of people registering for admission has increased by 300 – 400%. UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta has also been included in the top ten in Science and in the top eight in Social and Humanitarian Sciences. This also proves that UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta has supremacy in technology. In addition, it was also explained that UPN alumnae have encouraged UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta to become an Energy university.

Suryo Eko, the Director of Business Development at PT Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk, explained that PT. Bukit Asam was originally was only a mining company but has now transformed into an International Class Energy Company having deep concern toward the ecology. The choice of UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta as a subject of feasibility study for cooperation is considered to be correct. The cooperation will be in the form of Research and Development, improvement of the existing MOU between UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta and PT Bukit Asam, in which UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta only serves as the consultant. The MOU will be developed into an MOU for Research and Development, related to Mining, Energy, Ecology and Renewable Energy. PT. BA is willing to finance the researches, energy-base researches, conducted by the lecturers of UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta.

Furthermore, it was also discussed how to transform former mining sites into tourism facilities or destinations. PT. BA suggested that TanjungEnim, currently a mining site, can be transformed into a tourism site in order to elevate the living conditions of the local communities after the mining operation terminates. The Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Dwi Fitri Yudiantoro, MT, suggested that we also need to establish cooperation with the Chemistry Department, in addition to that already made with Ecosystem Engineering (Teknik Lingkungan) Geology and Mining departments.