Two students of the Undergraduate Program in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Sundari Cantika (230405015) and Tesalonika Zega (230405038), carried out practical training at the Palm Oil Mill (PKS) of PT Inecda, Petala Bumi Village, Seberida District, Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau Province. The activity took place from February 2 to March 1, 2026.
At the initial stage, the students received an introduction to Occupational Safety and Health (K3), the use of personal protective equipment, factory layout, operational schedules, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), work instructions, and the implementation of the safety-first principle. This preparation served as a foundation before the students conducted direct observations in the process areas and supporting facilities.
During the practical training, the students observed various process and supporting units, including the wastewater treatment plant, waste management facilities, water treatment plant, laboratory, and palm oil processing stations. The students also studied the working principles of equipment, crude palm oil (CPO) production flow, utility systems, waste treatment, and the interconnections between stations in supporting factory operations.
The activity also included collecting operational data for the preparation of reports and special assignments under the guidance of field supervisors. One of the analytical focuses recorded was the effect of variations in crude oil flow rate on the retention time in the Continuous Settling Tank unit, along with the preparation of a process flowchart for the factory processing system as part of the practical training.
This activity primarily supports SDG 4—Quality Education through contextual learning based on industrial experience. Its relevance to SDG 9—Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure is reflected in students’ understanding of industrial processes and systems, while SDG 12—Responsible Consumption and Production is relevant through learning about waste treatment and production process management. FT USU is committed to promoting practical training that strengthens students’ technical competencies, occupational safety awareness, and professional readiness.