Dompu, July 21, 2025 — PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM), a copper exploration company managing the Hu’u Project, demonstrated its support for the development of tourism in Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB), by contributing to the success of the Lakey Festival. Held from July 12–20, 2025, along Lakey Beach in Hu’u District, the festival drew more than 30.000 visitors.
Lakey Festival showcased breathtaking natural scenery blended with cultural richness, diverse culinary offerings, and various sporting events. Activities included the Lakey Fun Run, mini boat races, a surfing tournament, cultural camps, mass traditional dance performances, and much more. The appearance of special guest Juan Reza, a singer from East Nusa Tenggara known for the hit song Pica-Pica, added to the festive atmosphere.
Festival visitors and participants came not only from Dompu and other parts of NTB, but also from across Indonesia and abroad. For example, in the surfing tournament held from July 15–17, tourists from Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, China, South Africa, and the United States competed on Lakey’s unique “left-handed” waves, which break to the left.
Over the nine-day event, the Lakey Festival contributed significantly to the local economy. The Dompu Department of Culture and Tourism estimated that the festival generated around Rp15 billion in economic activity, particularly in the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. One of the festival’s main events, the Ou Balumba dance, even set a national record with the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI), performed by 21.220 dancers, the largest ever recorded in Indonesia.
Dompu Regent Bambang Firdaus expressed special appreciation for STM, one of the festival’s main sponsors. “Sumbawa Timur Mining played a key role in organizing the Lakey Festival, helping to realize what we all envisioned. It was a remarkable success,” he stated amid the celebration.
The Regent also emphasized the need to continue the well-established partnership between the Dompu Regency Government and STM. “This is part of our joint effort to grow the economy and build the Dompu we all love. Once again, thank you to STM and its outstanding management,” he said.
STM’s contribution went beyond sponsorship. The company renovated the Lakey Beach pedestrian path, assisted with festival site preparation using heavy machinery for three days, and provided two garbage trucks and cleaning personnel to help maintain cleanliness.
Abdul Muis, the Head of Dompu’s Department of Culture and Tourism, also praised STM’s support. “From the bottom of our hearts, we thank STM for their incredible contribution, which helped make the Lakey Festival a success,” he said.
STM also empowered its assisted MSME group, the Jara Hu’u MSME Association, to take part in the festival. The group sold a variety of locally made products such as menepela chips, moringa sticks, fish floss, salted peanuts, and assorted traditional cakes. Two of these entrepreneurs were even selected to be part of the festival’s core organizing committee, collaborating with Dompu’s Cooperative and MSME Office to prepare meals for VIP guests.
Ulya Defretes, STM’s Community Relations Manager, said the company’s involvement reflects its commitment to local economic development through both tourism and MSMEs. “We’re proud to have been part of the 2025 Lakey Festival. This event has a broad impact on Dompu, not just in promoting tourism but also in creating opportunities for MSMEs to grow. We hope the positive effects of this festival will continue to benefit the Dompu community long after the event ends,” she said.
The excitement of the Lakey Festival also attracted attention from provincial and national government representatives. Among the attendees were NTB Governor Dr. H. Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism Zita Anjani, and Director of ICT Services at the Ministry of Creative Economy, Dr. H. Abdul Malik, along with several other officials. This multi-level collaboration played a vital role in the success of the festival and further strengthened the spirit of unity in advancing Dompu’s tourism sector.
***
About PT Sumbawa Timur Mining
PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM) is a joint venture company between Eastern Star Resources Pty Ltd (80%), a subsidiary of Vale Base Metals, and PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (20%). STM manages the Hu’u Project, a copper exploration project operating under a 7th Generation Contract of Work (CoW) located in Hu’u Subdistrict, Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia.
The CoW area also contains geothermal resources. To explore this potential, STM established its affiliate company, PT Sumbawa Timur Geothermal, which has received a Geothermal License (IPB) from the government. STM continues its journey toward realizing its vision of becoming a world-class copper mining operation powered by renewable energy.
For more information, please contact the STM Communications Team.
