Breaking Barriers in the Metallurgical World: Eka Widiastuti’s

Breaking Barriers in the Metallurgical World: Eka Widiastuti's Journey at TSL Ausmelt PT TIMAH

PANGKALPINANG - This young woman proves that the mining and metallurgical industry is not a limit for women to thrive. She is Eka Widiastuti, an engineer at the TSL Ausmelt facility of PT TIMAH in the Processing and Refinery Division, who has become one of the key drivers in the company's modern smelter operations.

Eka is known as someone who enjoys challenges. Her passion for traveling reflects her adventurous character, including in navigating a career in a complex and dynamic industry.

Eka joined PT TIMAH in December 2018 after completing her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Metallurgical Engineering. She began her career in the Learning and Development division until 2021, before eventually moving directly into one of the company's strategic projects, TSL Ausmelt.

"From the beginning, I was interested in calculations and processes. But once I entered the industry, it turned out to be far more complex. It's not just about calculations on paper, but about ensuring everything runs according to plan in the field," she said.

Since 2021, Eka has been fully involved in the TSL Ausmelt project, from the study phase, construction, commissioning, to operations. This experience has been a valuable journey that not all engineers have.

Eka was also among several PT TIMAH engineers sent to Melbourne to study TSL Ausmelt operations.

The toughest challenge she faced was during the commissioning process in 2022. For the first two weeks, the furnace had not yet produced metal according to target.

"That's when we truly learned. Operational parameters had to be adjusted, many trials were conducted, and everything was done collaboratively with various parties. It was the most valuable learning experience," she recalled.

Throughout the process, Eka also encountered various technical dynamics. However, with strong technical understanding, the team was able to identify and resolve them effectively.

Currently, she is also actively driving innovation in the workplace through various mini projects, focusing on finding optimal patterns from dynamic raw material characteristics.

Amid various project challenges, including during the COVID-19 pandemic which affected procurement and operations, Eka continued to demonstrate strong commitment. She even chose to stay when many of her peers decided to leave the project.

For her, the opportunity to be involved in a major project like TSL Ausmelt is rare.

"Projects like this don't come twice. So I chose to stay and see it through," she said.

Now, after more than three years of involvement in the project, she views its success as the result of collaboration among the entire team, both from management and operations.

As one of the few female engineers at the facility, Eka realizes that the challenges she faces are not only technical, but also physical and social.

However, she believes women have their own advantages, especially in multitasking and problem solving.

"What matters is not whether you're male or female, but your competence and how you contribute. In the team, we support and complement each other," she said.

In a plant that operates 24 hours with a shift system, Eka and the technical service team must always be on standby to support smooth production processes.

Her previous experience in Learning and Development has equipped Eka with an understanding of the importance of human resource competency development. She was once involved in developing a curriculum based on the company's core business, particularly in mining and metallurgy.

According to her, operational success depends not only on technology, but also on the readiness of human resources.

"Technology must be upgraded, but human resources must also grow. It has to be balanced," she emphasized.

For Eka, there are three main keys to growing in this industry: continuously improving competence, having the courage to take risks, and being able to collaborate.

"If we are not brave enough to try, we will never know the extent of our capabilities. And in an industry like this, no one can work alone," she advised.

The Division Head of Processing and Refinery, Sofian Simangunsong, considers Eka a young engineer with strong competence and high dedication in supporting TSL Ausmelt operations.

According to him, Eka is one of the engineers involved from the early stages of the project through full operations, demonstrating a level of commitment not commonly found among her peers.

"Eka has been involved from the project phase, commissioning to operations. This shows her ability to adapt to complex technology as well as her strong understanding of operational parameters," said Sofian, who is also Eka's supervisor.

He also noted that Eka's educational background in metallurgy is a strong advantage in mastering modern and challenging Ausmelt technology.

"Her academic foundation is very strong, and it is reflected in her systematic, meticulous way of working, as well as her ability to coordinate across functions, including with operators, engineering teams, and maintenance," he added.

Furthermore, Sofian mentioned that Eka has not only been able to thrive in a male-dominated work environment but has also demonstrated outstanding performance.

"She carries herself well-professional, confident, and focused on her work. One could say she doesn't just keep up, but excels," he said.

In addition, Eka is also considered to have high loyalty to the company, including her willingness to be assigned to work locations without many complaints and her consistency in supporting operations. (*)