Bahlil Guarantees Coal Stock for PLN Safe Through April 2026

Jakarta, VIVA – The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, guarantees that coal stock for PLN’s steam-fired power plants (PLTU) owned by PT PLN (Persero) remains safe through to April 2026.

“For PLN’s needs, I can confirm that up to March, April, there is no issue,” Bahlil said at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Jakarta, Tuesday, 3 March 2026.

He affirmed that the government continues to monitor PLN’s coal requirements. He said this in response to reports that PLN faced a coal supply crisis as a result of coal production cuts in 2026.

The 2026 coal production quota is set at around 600 million tonnes, about 190 million tonnes lower than 2025’s realised figure of 790 million tonnes. The reductions are implemented through restrictions on coal production quotas set by the government, in each company’s Work Plan and Budget (RKAB).

Bahlil said the reduction measures are a government strategy to find a balance between coal supply and demand, thereby improving prices.

“Let us not flood the market with cheap goods. In that sense, we are restructuring RKAB to prioritise meeting national needs, including PLN,” he said.

It is understood that previously the Ministry of ESDM had communicated with PT PLN (Persero) to anticipate a shortfall in coal supplies for steam power plants (PLTU). In a meeting with PLN, the Ministry asked PLN to map which plants are urgent or emergency.

Regarding coal supply, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Yuliot Tanjung, said that this should have been fulfilled from the obligation of coal mining companies to sell around 30 per cent of their production to PLN under the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) coal scheme.

Yuliot said the issue is how coal is transported from mine sites to the plants. For example, if a plant’s coal stock is a minimum of 20 days. To ensure coal stock does not fall below 20 days, he stressed the importance of timely procurement.

“Let procurement not suffer delays,” he said. (Antara).