The President Director of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), Bambang Ismawan,\nhas revealed several challenges facing the coal industry, particularly\namidst ongoing global geopolitical volatility.<\/p>\n
Despite these challenges, he stated that PTBA\u2019s performance in the\nfirst half of 2026 remained positive. The company\u2019s profit was recorded\nat approximately Rp2.65 trillion, representing an increase of about 215%\ncompared to the same period the previous year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlhamdulillah, as mentioned, our profit rose significantly by\napproximately 21 and a half percent to Rp2.65 trillion. In my view, this\nincrease is not merely due to ordinary circumstances, but is certainly\nthe result of the hard work of all employees at PT Bukit Asam,\u201d said\nBambang during the CNBC Indonesia Closing Bell event, as reported on\nMonday (14\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
Bambang explained that there are at least three main factors that\nserve as both challenges and cost drivers in the coal industry: fuel\nprices, the stripping ratio (SR), and overburden management.<\/p>\n
According to him, fuel prices are one of the cost components that are\ndifficult for the company to control because they are heavily influenced\nby external conditions. \u201cWhen discussing the coal industry, our high\ncosts are driven by three factors. The first is fuel. Fuel prices are\nwhat we would call uncontrollable,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the stripping ratio and overburden management are factors\nthat can still be controlled through careful mining planning and\noperational management. \u201cThese two are things we manage well. That is\nwhy I tell my colleagues at PT Bukit Asam that we must have long-term\nmining plans. We must not only think about the present, as it could\nbecome a burden in the following year. That is what I always emphasise,\u201d\nsaid Bambang.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the company\u2019s coal demand is\ncurrently increasing, which has also been a driver for improved\ncorporate performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeopolitical situations are unavoidable. Conflicts in various parts\nof the world inevitably affect energy needs in many countries,\nespecially those requiring coal supplies. Therefore, to date, coal\ndemand remains very high. At PT Bukit Asam, you could say buyers are\nqueuing up to purchase coal from us. There are no issues regarding the\nmarket. We are confident because we maintain our quality and\nperformance, ensuring that buyers receive both quality and certainty,\u201d\nhe explained.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, with the current trend of rising coal prices\u2014which even\ntouched US$150 per tonne last week\u2014this serves as a momentum for the\ncompany to increase profits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the rise in coal prices, the company will achieve better profit\nmargins. This is an opportunity for PT Bukit Asam to maximise sales,\nespecially exports, to take full advantage of this favourable situation.\nThis momentum may not last forever; it could change at any time. When it\ndoes, our strategy will change accordingly. Therefore, when prices are\ngood, we maximise our sales to increase company profits,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
As previously reported, PTBA\u2019s Finance and Risk Management Director,\nUna Lindasari, explained that the company successfully booked revenue of\nRp22.03 trillion, an 8% growth in the first half of 2026 compared to the\nsame period last year. She emphasised that the company\u2019s sales strategy\nand efficiency programmes were key to maintaining profitability amidst\nmarket dynamics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis performance was supported by operational recovery in the second\nquarter, strengthened export sales, and an improvement in the average\ncoal selling price,\u201d Una Lindasari stated during PTBA\u2019s online public\nexpose on Monday (7\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
The company noted that the strengthening of global coal prices had a\npositive impact, with the Newcastle Index increasing by 25% and ICI 3\nrising by 15% year-on-year. This triggered a 10% increase in the\ncompany\u2019s average selling price (ASP), which was the primary reason for\nthe strengthening net profit margin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are leveraging the momentum of strengthening global coal prices\nthrough adaptive sales strategies accompanied by efficiency programmes\nto maintain cost discipline,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
From an operational perspective, PTBA produced 19.45 million tonnes\nof coal, with total sales volume reaching 21.1 million tonnes. Export\nsales grew by 5% to 10.33 million tonnes, with primary destinations\nincluding Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, and Thailand, while the\ndomestic sales portion reached 51%, or 10.77 million tonnes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis achievement serves as a foundation for the company to continue\ngrowth through the strengthening of core businesses and the development\nof new growth sources,\u201d she added.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ptba-ceo-outlines-coal-industry-challenges-amid-global-volatility-1789386961", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }