From stretches of barren, unproductive land now grows a source of livelihood for thousands of farming families. This is the story of Syailendra Bumi Investama (Syailendra BI), a social enterprise under the DDistillers brand, which has successfully turned critical land into jobs for more than 2,000 villagers — thanks to the support of PT Pertamina (Persero)’s MSME development program.
The journey began in 2014, initiated by Eliest Listiani, who was moved by the socio-economic struggles of communities in the remote areas of Brebes, Central Java. At that time, farmers faced poverty due to arid lands that were difficult to cultivate. In 2015, field research discovered the solution: citronella grass, an aromatic essential plant resilient in all seasons and capable of restoring soil fertility.
Community education followed, teaching villagers sustainable essential oil cultivation techniques and waste processing under a zero-waste concept. A major breakthrough came in late 2020 when Syailendra BI officially became a Pertamina Partner through a Micro and Small Business Funding program worth IDR 100 million. The capital was used to strengthen production, operations, and marketing.
The results were remarkable — annual revenue grew from IDR 1.2 billion to IDR 3.5 billion in 2021, then IDR 4.5 billion in 2022, solidifying its status as a taxable entrepreneur. Today, DDistillers regularly supplies essential oils to national exporters and the domestic aromatic industry, while also penetrating international markets such as France, Singapore, Switzerland, Canada, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, India, South Korea, and Brazil.
With 200 distillation points across almost all provinces, DDistillers employs 12 permanent staff, one academic expert, and empowers around 400 distillers and more than 2,000 farmers through the “Paguyuban Emas Hijau” (Green Gold Community).
This year, DDistillers is also participating in Pertamina UMK Academy 2025 and Pertamina SMEXPO Merah Putih to expand its business networks and strengthen enterprise capacity.
“Pertamina supports MSMEs like DDistillers, which can transform challenges into opportunities while delivering real benefits to thousands of farming families in Indonesia,” said Fadjar Djoko Santoso, VP of Corporate Communication at Pertamina, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
This success aligns with the Prabowo–Gibran Administration’s Asta Cita, Point 3, which focuses on creating quality jobs, fostering entrepreneurship, and developing the creative industry. The impact is not only economic but also environmental, as degraded lands are restored to productivity.
“For us, business is not only about profit, but about building hope,” emphasized Eliest. “From land once considered useless, we have proven that a green and prosperous future is possible.”
As a leader in energy transition, Pertamina continues to support Indonesia’s Net Zero Emission 2060 target by promoting sustainability-oriented MSME programs. This commitment aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the application of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) principles across all business lines.
Tempo. (2025, August 14). Pertamina Supports MSME DDistillers, Turning Degraded Land into Jobs. Tempo.
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