From Bauxite to Alumina, Polibatam Students Witness the Production Process Firsthand at PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia, Galang Batang SEZ
BINTAN – A total of 35 students from the Applied Metallurgical Engineering Study Program at Politeknik Negeri Batam (Polibatam) took part in an industrial visit to PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia (PT BAI) at the Galang Batang Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Bintan Regency, on Thursday, August 20, 2026. The group was accompanied by two lecturers, Adi Syahputra Purba, S.Pd., M.Si. and Ebeng Sugondo, S.T., M.T., who guided the students throughout the visit.
The visit was part of the ongoing collaboration between Polibatam and PT BAI. Two weeks earlier, on August 5, 2026, Polibatam had accompanied 48 students to begin a two-semester internship program at the same company, further strengthening the connection between vocational education and industry.
PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia operates an alumina refinery that processes bauxite ore into alumina, the primary raw material used in aluminium production. Located in the Galang Batang SEZ, the facility is one of the major mineral-processing industries in the Riau Islands Province. During the visit, the metallurgy students were able to see firsthand the industrial processes they had previously encountered only through diagrams and classroom discussions.
One of the most valuable lessons for the students was the importance of foreign-language proficiency in an international industrial environment. PT BAI employs workers from various countries, while daily communication within the production environment commonly uses English and Mandarin. This highlighted the importance of language skills, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively in multinational teams for graduates seeking careers in large-scale industries.
The students also joined a discussion with PT BAI’s Human Resources Division regarding internship requirements and recruitment pathways. Representatives from the processing and laboratory divisions provided further information on the technical competencies and professional skills students should prepare before entering the workforce. The group then toured several permitted areas, including the processing facilities, process control room, and laboratory, while wearing personal protective equipment and complying with the company’s safety regulations.
The journey to the industrial site itself also provided a valuable learning experience. The group departed from the Polibatam campus at 6:30 a.m., travelled by road to Punggur Port, crossed by sea to Tanjung Uban, and continued by land to the factory area. The trip gave students a direct understanding that large-scale mineral-processing industries also require strong logistical readiness, discipline, and effective time management.
“We brought the students across the island so they could see for themselves the scale of the industry waiting for them in the future. Once they stand in front of the refinery, they understand what knowledge and skills they need to start preparing from now,” said Adi Syahputra Purba, S.Pd., M.Si., one of the accompanying lecturers.
The Applied Metallurgical Engineering Study Program and PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia also discussed plans for the placement of metallurgy students in internship programs starting in the 2027/2028 Academic Year. The study program expressed its appreciation to PT BAI’s management for the warm welcome and learning opportunities provided, while reaffirming its commitment to making industrial visits a continuous academic agenda so that students can become familiar with professional working environments from an early stage.
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