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Published on 08.10.2009
Earthstone Group Pledges IDR 1 Billion for Padang Earthquake Relief

  • Emergency supplies of medications, inoculations, and equipment arranged from Jakarta city for two of the largest hospitals in Padang. 
  • Generator sets arranged for a big hospital to ensure electricity supply  for patient treatment
  • Temporary shelters, food supplies, hospitalization for victims in Padang, Pariyaman and Krinchi areas
  • Disaster Response Team mobilized to other remote affected districts to assess needs of the victims

Jakarta, October 08, 2009 – Earthstone Group, today announced that the Earthstone Foundation, the corporate philanthropy organization of Earthstone, has pledged over IDR 1,000,000,000 towards the Immediate Disaster Relief for helping victims of the powerful earthquake that struck Sumatra Island of Indonesia.  Within hours after disaster, Earthstone Foundation Disaster Response Team (EFDRT) was activated that at this time actively participates in relief efforts alongside with international squads on site.

The city of Padang was devastated by a 7.6 earthquake on September 30, 2009 followed by the 6.8 magnitude earthquake claiming at least 1,100 lives and destroying homes throughout the region, collapsing homes and buildings, and affecting more than 1 million children and families. Some of the other prominent areas affected are Pariyaman and Krinchi.

"Our hearts go out to the people affected by this tragedy," said Earthstone Chairman and CEO Pankaj Shah. “We are honored to extend support to the people of this country at the time of emergency. As we continue doing business in Indonesia, it is our responsibility to contribute to the local communities and help the nation. And we will do our best in this initiative. Members from our Disaster Response Team from all over Indonesia has been diverted to Padang to ensure maximum assistance in this urgent hour of need. "

In conjunction with international efforts, members of EFDRT at this time had completed extensive work in Padang and are now deployed to the remote affected districts of Krinchi and Pariyaman in order to make rapid assessment of priority needs of the people. Humanitarian actions are underway: essential work is in progress on construction of  temporary shelters for displaced families; about 1000kgs of rice was immediately disseminated among the residents of Pariyaman village. 

Earthstone Foundation’s approach to dealing with disaster relief projects is to integrate itself into international humanitarian effort; focus first on immediate disaster relief, and in the longer term to concentrate on collaboration with local and state governments, civil societies and NGOs to rebuild families, to offer development assistance to affected children, and to help support reconstruction efforts. 

About Philanthropy at Earthstone

Earthstone Foundation, the corporate philanthropy organization of Earthstone Group, is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships in countries like Indonesia, India and West Africa, the Earthstone Foundation supports projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs in order to fulfill the sustainable development. This academic year, we are supporting 21 students including 8 MBBS, 1 BDS, 1 Engineer and 7 B.Tech students from the Vikash Charitable Trust. Out of these, we are supporting 13 students who are academically brilliant, but in the midst of their courses, their donors announced incapability to further assist with grants earlier allocated. In India, we are also associated with the world renowned Jaipur Foot Organization, which has so far provided more than 1,000,000 free Artificial Limbs to those in need. In Africa, we are supporting a healthcare project in Niamey, the capital city of Central Western Country Niger. We are also in process of funding a primary healthcare center in Sumatra, Indonesia.


About Earthstone Group

Earthstone Group is a diversified multinational Group with established presence in Mines and Minerals and developing interests in Energy, Roads, Airports, Ports, Rail Networks and other associated Infrastructure. Acting through its subsidiary companies the Group secured 100% Economic Rights in Coal, Iron Ore, and Manganese Ore properties in Indonesia. We are actively pursuing opportunities in a number of Asian and African countries for Coking Coal, Uranium, Gold and Thermal Coal Mining. For more information, log on to www.earthstonegroup.com