Jakarta, October 27, 2025 — Many villages in Indonesia have great local economic potential, but they are often not optimally developed. One effective approach to move the wheels of the village economy is through cooperatives. Armed with the spirit of "Growing Together with the Community", PT Sumber Segara Primadaya (S2P), the owner of the Cilacap PLTU, assisted the Usaha Berkah Sejahtera Kewasen (UBSK) in Kewasen, Karangkandri, through a cooperative-based CSR program. The company not only provides financial support, but also encourages the birth of economic independence of village communities in a collective, competitive, and sustainable manner.

The context of village economic development in Indonesia is currently undergoing significant changes. The government encourages various initiatives to optimize local potential through strengthening community economic institutions. One of the government's business forms is through the establishment of Merah Putih cooperatives. In the midst of these dynamics, the role of the business world is becoming increasingly important, not only as a provider of funds, but also as a strategic partner in building capacity and a sustainable economic system. This kind of collaboration model is run by PT Sumber Segara Primadaya (S2P) with the people of Kewasen.

Cooperatives were chosen as the basis for empowerment because they have a character that is in line with the culture of the village community: mutual cooperation, togetherness, and active participation. With a democratic structure, cooperatives are able to accommodate a variety of community economic activities, ranging from small businesses, processing agricultural products, to developing creative products. This approach makes cooperatives not only an economic institution, but also an instrument of social strengthening and community independence.

Before the UBSK Cooperative program was implemented, many local potentials in Kewasen Hamlet had not been managed properly. Local products are still limited to the local market, do not have standardization and are difficult to compete. From this condition, the idea was born to build a professional village cooperative with the support of direct assistance from PT Sumber Segara Primadaya (S2P). The process is not instantaneous; Starting from institutional formation, management training, to strengthening marketing networks, all are carried out gradually and systematically.

Now, cooperatives are the center of village economic activities. Members no longer rely solely on income from the traditional agricultural sector, but have begun to develop various new businesses through cooperatives. This change shows that when the community and the company go hand in hand, the transformation of the village economy can occur in a real and sustainable way.

The community empowerment program through the UBSK Cooperative began in 2019 from a community initiative to manage local potential together. This cooperative was officially established on November 4, 2019 and now has 489 active members from the residents of Kewasen, Karangkandri. Since its establishment, PT Sumber Segara Primadaya (S2P) – PLTU Cilacap has not only distributed financial assistance, but also provided institutional assistance, financial management training, business legality facilitation, and digital marketing coaching so that cooperatives grow independently and professionally.

The company's support includes the provision of business capital, the provision of production facilities, and skills training for members. In addition, PT S2P also helps build new business lines such as convection, eco-print, catering, and processed snacks. The company also facilitates product quality improvement through standardization, calculation of Cost of Production (COG), branding strategies, and opening access to local and global markets through digital technology.

The UBSK Cooperative has its own advantages because its members come from various sectors, ranging from agriculture, livestock, food processing, to small home businesses. The diversity of this sector makes cooperatives a forum for integrated economic empowerment that is able to create added value for rural communities.

Quantitatively, the success of cooperatives is beginning to appear. In 2024, UBSK cooperatives recorded revenues of IDR 496,176,803 with Residual Business Results (SHU) of IDR 128,402,052 distributed to members. In addition, the cooperative also managed to employ 24 local workers through fostered business units. This achievement shows the role of cooperatives in creating a significant effect of multiplying the village economy.

Zam Zam Nurjaman, LK3 & CSR Manager of PT Sumber Segara Primadaya, stated that the UBSK cooperative is a strategic partner of the company in encouraging village economic independence. "We hope that the support we provide, ranging from institutional strengthening, capacity building, to business development, can make this cooperative an example of successful synergy between companies and the community in realizing common welfare," he said.

Towards a Modern and Sustainable Village Cooperative

The approach of this CSR program is participatory. The community is the main actor, not just the beneficiary. PT Sumber Segara Primadaya (S2P) – PLTU Cilacap has placed a CSR assistance team to conduct regular field coaching, ensuring that each stage of empowerment runs systematically until the cooperative is truly independent.

The company has also designed various advanced initiatives such as digitizing the cooperative system, developing a circular economy to optimize local potential, and strengthening networks between cooperatives in the assisted villages. This strategy is directed to build village cooperatives that are transparent, adaptive to technology, and able to expand market access.

The UBSK Cooperative is now also the company's strategic partner in meeting operational needs such as the provision of labor, office supplies, and corporate event services. This collaboration not only ensures the sustainability of the cooperative's business, but also opens up wider opportunities for local products to enter a larger market.

Imam Ratiman, the administrator of the UBSK Cooperative, emphasized that this program has a significant impact on people's lives. "Business income is increasing, employment is increasing, and cooperatives are becoming more independent. We hope that this synergy will continue to run so that the benefits will be wider," he said.

Let's Support Independent and Innovative Village Cooperatives

The initiative  of PT Sumber Segara Primadaya (S2P) – PLTU Cilacap through the UBSK Cooperative shows that village economic empowerment can be realized through structured, participatory, and independence-oriented collaboration. This model can be an inspiration for other assisted areas to build economic independence through strengthening local institutions.