Berita

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Purnomo Yusgiantoro led the ceremony marking 2009 Mining and Energy Day celebrations, held at the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources on Monday (28/9). This ceremony was attended by officials, employees of the department and stakeholders of the sector.

Mining and energy day marks a historic day in the nation’s struggle for independence. On September 28, 1945, Indonesian employees of the Geological Office (Chisitsu Chosasho) took over the office, renaming it the Central Office for Mining and Geology (Poesat Djawatan Tambang dan Geologi). This reflects the kind of spirit and determination those young men and women possess to uphold the independence of the Republic of Indonesia.

Short summary of the historical events surrounding the Mining and Energy Day

The proclamation for Indonesia’s independence on August 17, 1945 brought major changes to all sectors, including mining. News of Indonesia’s independence reached employees of the Geological Office after being broadcast through the radio, which prompted them to prepare a plan to take further measures.

On September 28, 1945, the central government announced that all government employees are employees of the government of Indonesia and is to carry out orders from the central government. Under these orders from the central government, on September 27, 1945 the Indonesian National Committee of Bandung announced through the radio that all offices and companies in Bandung is to be taken over from the Japanese.

A small group of young employees at the Geological Office Led by Raden Ali Tirtosoewirjo, A.F Lasut, R. Soenoe Soemososastro, and Sjamsoe M. Bachroem, took over the office from the Japanese on September 28, 1945 at 11.00, thus renaming it the Central Office for Mining and Geology.

A.F. Lasut, known for his firm stance, rejected Dutch cooperation. During the occupation of Yogyakarta, A.F Lasut was kidnapped by a band of Dutch soldiers from his home in Pugeran, where he was then executed in Sekip, which is now part of the Gajahmada University. For his services, A.F Lasut is commended with a National Hero award through Presidential Decree No.012/TK/1969. Through this commendation, the events which unfolded at the Geological Office in 1945 is seen as an important historical event for the mining and energy sector. It is also noted that on September 28, 1945, there was also a takeover of the Java Electric Company (Jawa Denki Koza) by several nationalist youths.

On November 1 2007, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, led a meeting with high ranking officials of the Department at the Geological Body in Bandung to discuss the possibility of a Mining and Energy Day. This meeting resulted that September 28 is declared as the National Mining and Energy Day, which is stated under Presidential Decree No. 22/2008.