A Chapter Built on 37 Years of Pioneering Spirit
Founded in 1989 by Ir. Asep Kurnia Permadi, who remains the chapter's faculty advisor today, SPE Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Student Chapter (SC) holds the distinction of being the first SPE student chapter established in Indonesia and is currently the largest student chapter by membership in the world. That legacy was both the foundation and the fuel for the chapter's 2025/2026 theme: #BeyondTrueExcellence.
In a year that saw the chapter execute 101 work programs, engage 2,668 participants, collaborate with 34 organizations, and reach professionals across seven countries, SPE ITB SC President Firzan Annas As-shidiq summed up the spirit of the year simply: "Stay hungry to grow and learn, as both will remain—until we no longer do."
Years of Excellence: The Special Edition Magazine
The most tangible symbol of this year's achievements was the release of the chapter's "37 Years of Excellence" special edition magazine, a comprehensive visual and editorial record of the full stewardship. Supported by four industry sponsors (Diamond: Rock Flow Dynamics; Gold: PetroChina International Jabung Ltd.; and Bronze: HCML and PT Pertamina EP Cepu), the magazine is freely accessible at speitbsc.org.
"From my perspective, SPE ITB SC has consistently demonstrated what a strong student chapter should be: technically grounded, professionally active, and globally connected," said Jennifer L. Miskimins, 2026 SPE President, in the magazine. "Reaching this milestone is a testament to the dedication, passion, and hard work of generations of students, advisors, and supporters."
PetroBowl at SPE ATCE 2025, Houston: Competing on the World Stage
In October 2025, four ITB delegates, Fabian Alif Muhammad, Rasel Ahmad Madinal Ilmillah, Steven Pangdipta, and Fayza Ananda Syahda Damanik, represented SPE ITB SC at the 2025 PetroBowl International Championship in Houston, achieving a top 16 finish in the global competition.
Their journey to Houston began with a third-place finish at the Asia Pacific Regional Qualifiers in Malaysia in July 2025, securing Indonesia's golden ticket to the ATCE stage.
The 2026 team capped a remarkable competition record: 32 winning delegate teams across national and international competitions throughout the term.
Delegate Damanik said, "I was not confident that I would make it, but effort and prayers really paid off. I also learned a lot from my amazing teammates."
IPFEST 2026: Indonesia's Largest Petroleum Festival
The Integrated Petroleum Festival 2026 (IPFEST 2026), co-organized by SPE ITB SC, Himpunan Mahasiswa Teknik Perminyakan “PATRA” Institut Teknologi Bandung, and Ikatan Ahli Teknik Perminyakan Indonesia SM Institut Teknologi Bandung, drew more than 1,200 registered participants from across Indonesia and internationally, including teams from Malaysia, Algeria, and the Philippines.
This year's festival introduced the Hackathon Competition for the first time, in collaboration with SLB, SKK Migas, and PHE OSES, and also featured a Grand Seminar (IPCONVEX) on sustainable unconventional hydrocarbon development attended by top industry voices including Toriq Abdat (VP upstream business development, Pertamina), Taufan Marhaendrajana, and SPE Java.
Chairperson Ahmad Reizky Azhar, who served as a panelist, said, "The professionalism and engagement of SPE ITB SC in organizing this forum demonstrated their ability to bridge academic insight with industry perspective seamlessly."
The Big Field Trip: From Classroom to Oil Field
In February 2026, 40 students participated in the chapter's signature Big Field Trip to Pertamina EP Cepu and Pertamina EP Asset 4 Sukowati Field in Central Java. Over 2 days, participants observed live ESP and sucker rod-pump systems, engaged directly with field managers and engineers, and received briefings on the CCUS projects currently underway at Sukowati. It was, as one geophysics participant noted, "a great opportunity to see wells and rigs firsthand, very memorable and a lot of fun."
The Numbers Tell the Story
The SPE ITB SC is sponsored by the SPE Java Indonesia Section.
