Bandung, September 4, 2026 – PT Agincourt Resources, the operator of the Martabe Gold Mine, in collaboration with the Indonesian Economic Geologists Association (MGEI), officially launched the Olympiad Agincourt Resources (OlympiAR) 2026 at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). Now entering its third edition, the national geoscience competition for university students carries the theme “Orebody to Ecosystem: Integrating Mining Performance and Environmental Resilience.” The opening of OlympiAR 2026 was attended by approximately 500 students from various universities.
OlympiAR is part of E-Coaching Jam (ECJ), an Agincourt Resources program that, since 2014, has connected university students with industry practitioners and practical industry knowledge. As of 2024, ECJ has engaged more than 5,000 students across Indonesia with dozens of experts from various fields.
Through OlympiAR, the learning process in ECJ is taken to the competition stage. Participants are challenged to process data, solve case studies, work in teams, and defend solutions in front of academics and practitioners.
Director of Operations at PT Agincourt Resources, Rahmat Lubis, stated that the quality of decisions is at the core of OlympiAR 2026. Participants are not only challenged to produce technical solutions but also to assess their impact on safety, the environment, society, and operational sustainability.
“Orebody is the beginning of a series of decisions, not the end of geological work. The data we build will influence mine design, safety, water and waste management, rehabilitation, and post-mining. Therefore, mining performance and environmental resilience must be designed in the same decision from the beginning,” said Rahmat during the opening of OlympiAR 2026 at ITB, Friday (4/9/2026).
The opening was also attended by the Expert Staff of the West Java Governor for Economic and Development Affairs, Indra Maha; the Mayor of Bandung, Muhammad Farhan; the Head of the Mineral, Coal, and Geothermal Resource Center of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Agung Pribadi; the Deputy Dean for Resources representing the Rector of ITB, Dr. Dasapta Erwin Irawan, S.T., M.T., and his team.
Chairperson of MGEI, Rosalyn Wuliandhary, believes that the ability to connect geoscience, technical decisions, and environmental impact is becoming increasingly crucial as the demand for responsible mining practices rises.
“We need a generation that is not only strong in geosciences or mining but also capable of thinking integratively, connecting geosciences, mining, processing, technology, economics, environment, and society,” he said.
OlympiAR 2026 is open to students of geology and geosciences, mining engineering, earth sciences, environmental engineering, and related fields. The program series includes talk shows, online competitions, mentoring, geoscience technology training, case study resolutions, and final presentations.
The importance of developing integrated geoscience competencies also needs to be supported by various parties. The Head of the Center for Mineral, Coal, and Geothermal Resources at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Agung Pribadi, reminded that Indonesia is one of the largest mineral producers in the world with a vast wealth of natural resources.
“Therefore, the contribution of academics, business actors, and professional associations is crucial to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources and provide welfare for the Indonesian people,” he said.
In addition to cash prizes, the first-place team will have the opportunity to participate in an internship program at the Martabe Gold Mine, Batang Toru, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra. Through this experience, students can directly see firsthand how technology, collaboration, and responsibility are applied in mining operations.
Encourage Geoscience Talent in Sumatra
OlympiAR 2026 also motivates the participation of students from outside Java through special awards for participants from campuses in Sumatra. After the opening at ITB, the series of OlympiAR 2026 will continue at Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP) on September 8, 2026.
“We want OlympiAR to be a space for students from various regions not only to test their abilities but also to broaden their horizons, build networks, and see firsthand how the knowledge they acquire can be applied in the industry and the workforce,” said Katarina Siburian, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications at PT Agincourt Resources.
At OlympiAR 2024, 161 teams from 28 universities participated in the competition, while the entire series reached over 600 students, with the wARrior Hornblende team from ITB winning first place. OlympiAR then received the Silver award at the Indonesian Sustainable Development Awards (ISDA) 2024.
That achievement serves as a foundation for Agincourt Resources to continue expanding the reach of OlympiAR while also strengthening ECJ as a sustainable youth competency development program.
THE END
