Amid Rolling Blackouts, MPR Deputy Speaker Urges PLN to Secure Coal Supply and Accelerate Energy Transition
Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) from the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction, Eddy Soeparno, is pressing PLN to immediately address the rolling blackouts, particularly those occurring in Java, Sumatra, and Bali, both in terms of coal supply and power plant performance.
‘I have not only received reports regarding rolling blackouts from region to region, but more than that, I also experienced it myself during a visit to my electoral district in Bogor City on Friday afternoon (19 June),’ Eddy stated, as quoted in a press release on Saturday (20 June 2026).
‘I understand that the root of the problem stems partly from a shortage of medium-rank coal supply to PLN’s power plants, forcing an uneven allocation of electricity load,’ he continued.
According to the PAN Deputy Chairman, in a country rich in coal production, a coal supply crisis should not occur. Therefore, Eddy is urging PLN to evaluate its coal supply chain, including conducting a comprehensive evaluation to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The member of House of Representatives Commission XII also requested the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to accelerate coal production permits so that producers can immediately commence operations and domestic coal supply can be fulfilled.
‘I also encourage the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to conduct strict supervision of rogue coal producers who tend to evade their obligation to supply coal for domestic needs, based on the Domestic Market Obligation rules,’ Eddy said.
Ultimately, Eddy called on all stakeholders to view these periodic blackouts as momentum to accelerate the energy transition by building renewable energy sources that can largely replace the national electricity grid’s dependence on coal.
‘As I have consistently conveyed in various public forums, the energy transition programme, which is also aligned with President Prabowo’s Asta Cita vision, needs to be accelerated so that Indonesia’s dependence on fossil fuels, particularly in the electricity sector, can be maximally reduced,’ Eddy stated.
‘We have received a mandate from President Prabowo to build 100 GW of solar power plants and must accelerate the energy transition programme based on the 2025-2034 Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL), in order to maximise renewable energy sources spread across Indonesia and strengthen national energy security,’ concluded the Doctor of Political Science from the University of Indonesia.