PPA SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS THE 21ST IFRC 2024, THE BIGGEST IN ITS HISTORY

The 21st Indonesia Fire & Rescue Challenge (IFRC), hosted by PT Putra Perkasa Abadi (PPA), officially closed at Garuda Rescue Nusantara (GRN) in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan on Tuesday, 29 October 2024. Running from 22 to 30 October and contested by 26 rescue teams from across Indonesia, this 21st edition was the largest and liveliest IFRC in the competition's history.

The closing ceremony was led by Dr. Ir. Hendra Gunawan, Director of Mineral and Coal Environmental Engineering / Head of Mine Inspectors at the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, who praised the success of both the competition and the venue. "Alhamdulillah dengan persiapan yang matang dari PPA selaku tuan rumah, 21st IFRC dapat berjalan lancar. Kementerian ESDM turut bangga dengan berdirinya Garuda Rescue Nusantara (GRN) serta memiliki harapan GRN dapat menjadi rumah bagi para rescuer Indonesia dan tim tanggap darurat bencana ESDM. Saya menghimbau semoga GRN dapat terus mendukung ESDM Siaga Bencana sebagai tempat untuk belajar dan berlatih bersama. Dapat ikut menumbuhkan kerjasama dan sinergi antara stakeholder ESDM di Indonesia sehingga kita menjadi bangsa yang tangguh dalam ketanggapdaruratan," said Hendra Gunawan in his remarks.

Eight categories were contested: Firefighter Competency Test (FCT), Road Accident Rescue (RAR), High Angle Rescue (HAR), Confined Space Rescue (CSR), Collapsed Structure Search & Rescue (CSSR), Structural Fire Fighting (SFF), Underwater Rescue & Recovery (UWRR) and Firefighter Combat Challenge (FCC). PPA Group again posted a strong result at this annual competition, taking the Overall Winner title through PT Antareja Mahada Makmur (AMM), also part of PPA Group.

The closing of the 21st IFRC 2024 was attended by a number of figures including Major General Tri Budi Utomo, Commander of the VI/Mulawarman Military Regional Command, and Inspector General Drs. Nanang Avianto, M.Si., Chief of the East Kalimantan Regional Police. Also present were PPA's board of directors, directors representing participating companies, the judges, and guest observers from the Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC) Australia, Jennifer L Pearce and Peter D Oloughlin. The event was further enlivened by performances from singers Alffy Rev and Wika Salim.

In this edition AMM took 1st place overall with 2 golds, 1 silver and 2 consolation trophies. PPA was 2nd overall with 2 golds, 1 silver and 1 consolation trophy, while Freeport came 3rd overall with 1 gold, 1 silver and 3 consolation trophies.

The main winners of the 21st IFRC 2024 were:

1. Firefighter Competency Test (FCT): 1st Kideco, 2nd AMM, 3rd Buma

2. Road Accident Rescue (RAR): 1st Freeport Indonesia, 2nd Indominco, 3rd PAMA

3. High Angle Rescue (HAR): 1st PPA, 2nd Agincourt Resources, 3rd BIB

4. Confined Space Rescue (CSR): 1st Berau Coal, 2nd BUMA, 3rd BIB

5. Collapsed Structure Search & Rescue (CSSR): 1st BIB, 2nd SIS, 3rd PAMA

6. Structural Fire Fighting (SFF): 1st PPA, 2nd KPP, 3rd PAMA

7. Underwater Rescue & Recovery (UWRR): 1st AMM, 2nd Freeport, 3rd Agincourt Resources

8. Firefighter Combat Challenge (FCC): 1st AMM, 2nd PPA, 3rd KPC

A prestigious recognition also went to the IFRC 2024 venue, Garuda Rescue Nusantara (GRN), which received an Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) award as the "Building with the Largest Garuda Bird Roof Design in Indonesia". The award for the world-class rescuer training facility was presented on the sidelines of the IFRC 2024 opening ceremony on Wednesday (23 October).

This year's rescue competition drew considerable attention, with more than 60,000 spectators watching either in person or via live streaming on the @PTPutraPerkasaAbadi YouTube channel. At least 1,300 spectators came to the GRN venue each day, lifting turnover for more than 20 local small businesses. IFRC 2024 was also supported by volunteers from 16 companies and 8 universities. Alongside the competition, the "School Goes to GRN" programme introduced GRN to school students in East Kalimantan as a symbol of future contribution to Indonesia's safety and rescue sector.

As part of the closing ceremony, PPA President Director Joko Tri Raharjo symbolically handed the Pertapindo flag to Pertapindo Chairman Sri Raharjo, who then passed it to PT Freeport, marking the transfer of hosting duties for the 22nd IFRC to be held in 2026.

"Event ini bukan sekadar ajang kompetisi, tetapi juga kesempatan untuk belajar dari berbagai pengalaman. Kami berharap setiap peserta membawa pengetahuan dan keterampilan yang dapat diterapkan di tempat kerja masing-masing. Semoga IFRC ini menginspirasi kita untuk terus berkarya dan berkontribusi bagi bangsa Indonesia," said Joko Triraharjo.