25 October 2024
As dawn breaks over Obi Island, the sky brightens with the promise of a busy day. In the large kitchen of Harita Nickel, chefs work with urgency, turning a variety of prepared ingredients into delicious dishes. Steam rises from big pots, filling the air with inviting aromas.
One employee peels onions, while another chops fresh greens. Each worker wears masks, gloves, and hair coverings, ensuring that cleanliness is a top priority in this kitchen. Meticulous attention is devoted to food quality and hygiene. Every ingredient that enters the kitchen must undergo rigorous Quality Control (QC) processes. The cafeteria team inspects everything, from the freshness of ingredients to their packaging.
“We place great emphasis on hygiene. Every ingredient must be inspected by our Food Safety and Industrial Hygiene team. From the initial stages through the cooking process, everything must adhere to the standards set by management,” Junaidi Arief, HRGA Superintendent of PT Halmahera Persada Lygend (HPL) clarifies.
These busy kitchens might seem like any other, but it is anything but ordinary. It is vital for feeding over twenty thousand people every day on Obi Island in North Maluku. Each day, around sixty thousand meals are prepared, with fifteen thousand meals made specifically for the employees HPL.
To keep meals exciting, the menus are changed daily. At HPL, there's even a live cooking program that offers employees a unique experience. “We create a monthly menu plan so employees can enjoy different meals, and we also have live cooking events to add variety,” he says.
These kitchens never sleep; they operate around the clock, ensuring that all of the employees receive nourishing meals that support their demanding work. “The food supply must be continuous,” explains Junaidi.
“Our cafeteria team is fully operational, preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even midnight snacks—all provided free of charge for our employees, whom we refer to as Insan Harita,” he adds.
Yet, given the company's remote location, how does Harita Nickel guarantee a steady supply of food? The unpredictable weather often presents its own set of challenges.
“We indeed face challenges in sourcing food supplies, but we strive to overcome them by collaborating with local suppliers,” Junaidi reveals.
These local suppliers consist of farmers and fishermen from Obi Island itself. Farmers from the villages of Laiwui, Jikotamo, Buton and Akegula regularly provide vegetables such as bitter melons or known as pare, cucumbers, as well as fresh fruits like watermelon and melon. Meanwhile, fish are sourced from local fishermen in the nearby villages of Kawasi, Soligi, Mano and Madopolo. This collaboration not only ensures a reliable food supply but also empowers the local community.
Community Development Manager at Harita Nickel Ifan Farianda highlights how important local farmers and fishermen are in supplying food for employees, showing the company’s commitment to supporting these communities. Through its Community Development and Empowerment (PPM) program, Harita Nickel promotes a “One Village, One Product” strategy to improve the welfare of nearby villages. The aim is to help these villages create unique products that can be sold to the company and beyond.
“There are about ten villages in the vicinity of the company, each with its own farmer and fisherfolk groups that we support. Our aim is to propel these villages toward the One Village, One Product initiative, ensuring a consistent supply to the industrial area from each community,” Ifan explains.
By integrating local farmers and fishermen into its food supply chain, Harita Nickel not only secures a steady stream of quality food but also strengthens the economy of Obi Island. The economic turnover from the agricultural and fishing sectors only reaches a staggering Rp 13 billion per month, making this collaboration a win-win solution for all parties involved.
Behind these big busy kitchens, there are stories about how thousands of employees on Obi Island enjoy nutritious meals every day, highlighting the community's strength and the company's dedication to its workers and local suppliers.
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