Indonesia Garuda Mine Rescue Wins 4 Trophies at The 13th MERC 2023 Australia

JAKARTA - The Indonesia Garuda Mine Rescue Team, represented by the Emergency Response Team (ERT) of PT Putra Perkasa Abadi (PPA), won four trophies at The 13th Mining Emergency Rescue Competition (MERC) 2023 on 24–26 November 2023 at Langley Park, Perth, Australia. The results were announced at the MERC 2023 Closing Ceremony on the evening of 26 November 2023 local time.

The Indonesia Garuda Mine Rescue team competed across seven scenarios against 14 ERT teams from a number of other mining companies including BHP, Rio Tinto, Newmont, Northern Star, Regis, Barto Gold, Fortescue and Synergy. The seven scenarios contested were Confined Space Rescue, ERT Readiness, Fire Fighting, First Aid, Hazmat Rescue, Road Crash Rescue and Vertical Rescue.

At the event, the Indonesia Garuda Rescue Mine team won the 1st place trophy in the Vertical Rescue scenario, 2nd place in the Hazmat Rescue scenario, and 3rd place in the Fire Fighting & Breathing Apparatus Skill scenario. The team also took home the Team Spirit Awards trophy, judged to have shown very high spirit and drive to carry out rescue, full of respect, solid and encouraging one another.

The achievement by Indonesia's representatives is one to be proud of: in the history of the Mining Emergency Response Competition held by MERC, this is the first time international participants from outside Australia have won as many as four awards.

The Minister for Mines & Petroleum, Energy, Hydrogen Industry and Industrial Relations of Western Australia, Bill Johnston, who attended the MERC 2023 Closing Ceremony, made a point of coming to the Indonesia Garuda Mine Rescue Team's table to congratulate the team in person.

Sue Stelle, one of MERC's Founding Members, also said she appreciated the team's achievement. In her view, the Indonesia Garuda Mine Rescue Team showed the essence of the rescue attitude in mining.

"Mereka semua terlatih dengan baik, profesional, dan benar-benar orang-orang yang baik. Kami akan selalu menyambut kehadiran Indonesia Garuda Mine Rescue Team kembali di ajang MERC," praised Stelle.

Tony, judicator for the Vertical Rescue Scenario, said winning the Vertical Rescue scenario is a very big dream for every team competing at MERC. "Terima kasih telah membiarkan kami melihat kalian menyelesaikannya secara profesional," said Tony.

Praise also came from Sandra Wagner, who has taken the Best Medic and Captain titles twice in a row at MERC. In her view, across the competition's history many teams have competed at MERC but only a few have taken a title.
"Tim-tim ERT dari Australia yang baru pertama kali mengikuti MERC biasanya tidak memenangkan juara sama sekali, tapi kalian memenangkan beberapa trofi di ajang ini," Wagner said in praise.

PPA Operations Director Joko Tri Raharjo, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude for the result the Indonesia Garuda Rescue team achieved at an event it entered for the first time.

"Itu bukti bahwa Tim Indonesia Garuda Mine Rescue tidak kalah skillful dan kuat dari tim-tim perusahaan kelas dunia tersebut," said Joko.

For context, MERC is a non-profit competition providing world-class emergency rescue training and skills development for mining ERTs.

The trophies won by the team from Indonesia are a step to be proud of and a great motivation, both for the Garuda Mine Rescue Team and for other ERTs in Indonesia, to keep improving their skills and competence in emergency rescue.