The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has denied that\ndepleting coal stocks for power plants caused the rolling blackouts that\noccurred in several regions in recent days. Secretary General of the\nMinistry of ESDM, Ahmad Erani Yustika, stated that coal supply for power\nplants is generally in a safe condition. \u201cOverall, there is no (coal\nshortage). There shouldn\u2019t be,\u201d he told reporters at the Ministry of\nESDM in Jakarta on Friday, 12 June 2026.<\/p>\n
According to Erani, the Directorate General of Electricity at the\nMinistry of ESDM is coordinating with the Board of Directors of PT PLN\n(Persero) to discuss the rolling blackout issue. The government will\nsoon provide more complete information regarding the state of the\nnational electricity system after the meeting concludes. \u201cContinuous\ncoordination with the Director General as well. I believe they have more\ncomplete information,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Previously, Minister of ESDM Bahlil Lahadalia also denied that\nlimited coal stocks at several power plants triggered the rolling\nblackouts. Bahlil stated that the obligation to fulfil coal supply for\ndomestic needs, or the domestic market obligation (DMO), is still\nrunning according to regulations and its volume has reached a\nsignificant figure. \u201cIf it is said that coal is scarce, that is not\ntrue. Because our assignment has already reached 170 million tonnes,\u201d\nBahlil said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, 11 June\n2026.<\/p>\n
According to Bahlil, the electricity disruptions were caused by\ntechnical problems at several generating units. Currently, the Ministry\nof ESDM and PLN are conducting an evaluation and accelerating handling\nto restore the reliability of the electricity system. \u201cIndeed, there are\nsome troubles in several engines that PLN will resolve and we will\nresolve as soon as possible,\u201d said Bahlil.<\/p>\n
During the period of 9-11 June 2026, rolling blackouts occurred in\nseveral areas on Java Island. In East Java, parts of Gresik experienced\nblackouts on Tuesday, 9 June 2026. The following day, blackouts also\noccurred in several areas of Malang Regency. More widespread blackouts\noccurred in West Java. On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, power went out in 14\ncustomer service implementation unit areas. Affected areas included\nBogor, including the Bukit Cimanggu area, as well as Bekasi covering\nMutiara Gading Housing, parts of Dukuh Bima Housing, Kampung Ciketing\nRawamulya, and parts of Tambun and its surroundings.<\/p>\n
The blackouts triggered public complaints on social media. The\ncomment section of PT PLN (Persero)\u2019s official Instagram account was\nfilled with netizen complaints over the past three days. Most complaints\nhighlighted the lack of prior notice regarding the blackouts and the\nminimal information about estimated power restoration times.<\/p>\n
In its official statement, PLN stated that the rolling blackouts\noccurred due to maintenance of the electricity network in various\nregions. However, energy research and advocacy institute, the Institute\nfor Essential Services Reform (IESR), considers PLN\u2019s explanation\ninsufficient. IESR Chief Executive Officer Fabby Tumiwa said network\nmaintenance should not cause widespread blackouts, unless PLN is\nimplementing load curtailment.<\/p>\n
According to Fabby, a disruption at one power plant or network should\nnot escalate into widespread blackouts because the electricity system is\nequipped with reserve power, protection systems, and network redundancy.\nFabby suspects the recent rolling blackouts were triggered by low fuel\nreserves at several coal-fired power plants (PLTU) in the Java-Bali\nsystem, causing the plants to operate below optimal capacity. This\ncondition, he said, caused the plants\u2019 days of operation (HOP) to fall\nbelow safe limits. He assessed that delays in coal deliveries to the\nPLTUs were one factor making HOP critical. One cause of these delays is\nsuspected to be related to the postponement of the approval of work\nplans and budgets (RKAB) by the Ministry of ESDM.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are several factors causing the power outages, including\nminimal power reserves, fuel supply disruptions, unsynchronised plant\nmaintenance schedules, and transmission disturbances,\u201d Fabby said in a\nwritten statement on Thursday, 11 June 2026.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/esdm-denies-coal-stock-caused-rolling-blackouts-1781254477", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }