Life in Pangkalan Kerinci: What is it Like to Live at the APRIL Riau Complex?

Pangkalan Kerinci, the capital of Pelalawan District, is one of Riau Province’s fast-surging cities, with buzzing streets and a growing economy. Located approximately 70 km from Pekanbaru, Pangkalan Kerinci is home to one of Indonesia’s biggest pulp and paper producers, APRIL Group, and its sister company, Asia Pacific Rayon.

When APRIL Group first started building its mill in 1993, Pangkalan Kerinci was a village of just 200 dwellings. Today, it has grown into a small city of more than 100,000 people and is home to thousands of employees and their families.

So, what is life like in Pangkalan Kerinci?

Housing

The Riau Complex, set within Pangkalan Kerinci, was built entirely by APRIL for our employees and their families.

As an APRIL employee, you will be offered accommodation in one of the numerous housing areas in the or be given a monthly housing allowance.

More than 10,000 residents reside in a mix of landed houses and apartments in the Riau Complex. There are also houses and mess accommodation within our estates and plantation areas.

Education

APRIL supports an elementary school and two high schools in Pangkalan Kerinci. Global Andalan and Taruna Andalan follow Indonesia’s national curriculum, while Mutiara Harapan School (SMH) integrates both the national curriculum and the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, making SMH the only IB Diploma school in Riau. All APRIL-assisted institutions hold an ‘A’ accreditation from the National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education in Indonesia.

Three schools supported by , under the Kerinci Citra Kasih Foundation (YKCK), received the 2024 Adiwiyata Award from Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry for excellence in environmental education. Global Andalan Elementary School in Pangkalan Kerinci earned the top-tier Adiwiyata Mandiri award, while its counterparts in Baserah and Logas Estate received the Adiwiyata Nasional award. Recognizing eco-friendly initiatives like waste management, greening, and energy conservation, the award reaffirms the schools’ commitment to sustainability.

"This achievement strengthens our dedication to environmental education and inspires us to continue fostering eco-consciousness in future generations," said Djuwita Ratna, Head of School at Global Andalan.

Healthcare

APRIL provides healthcare facilities within the Riau Complex for their employees in their families. Each of the main residential areas, Townsite 1 and Townsite 2, is equipped with its own clinic, ensuring accessible and responsive medical care.

The clinics offer essential health services and are staffed with professional medical teams to serve the daily health needs of the community.

Sports and Leisure

There are over sports facilities in Riau Complex, which are enjoyed by APRIL employees who are part of clubs such as the Basketball Club, Running Club, and Badminton Club.

Locals and visitors alike are also welcome at Hotel Unigraha in the Riau Complex, the only three-star hotel in Pangkalan Kerinci. It features a swimming pool, gym, business centre, and full-service restaurant.

Since 2018, Hotel Unigraha has made environmentally conscious steps to reduce single-use plastic by replacing plastic straws with paper straws, as well as water bottles with water dispensers throughout the hotel.

Celebrations and Events

Kerinci fosters a strong sense of togetherness, and regularly holds events that aim to promote community spirit, establish kinship, and enable residents to learn about and enjoy each other’s cultures.

Since 2004, RAPP has organized a Culture Week (PSB) every year in Kerinci—a week-long celebration of arts and culture that marks the unity and diversity of the different communities residing in the town.

Hundreds of Kerinci residents put on their traditional costumes to take part in a cultural procession and showcase their traditional houses, musical instruments, and dishes, to visitors wishing to learn more.

Regular blood donation drives are also a fixture in Kerinci’s annual calendar, where many RAPP employees who are permanent donors show up to give a bit of their time and blood to the Indonesian Red Cross.

Enjoy on-site housing, full amenities for leisure and recreation, and a thriving international community that enriches both your personal life and professional growth. Click here to explore opportunities to join us at APRIL