Bahlil Reports to Prabowo on Energy Supply and PLN Electricity Stability
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia reported to President Prabowo Subianto on the condition of energy supply and the steps taken by the government to ensure the stability of electricity services provided by PT PLN (Persero) to the public. He stated that the discussion took place following electricity service disruptions that had occurred in several regions. In a meeting with PLN leadership, the government identified a number of key issues affecting power plant operations.
“We discussed the sustainability of government service stability, PLN’s service to the public, particularly regarding electricity,” Bahlil said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Monday.
According to Bahlil, there are several main issues of concern for the government and PLN. The first relates to gas-fired power plants (PLTG). The second is the fulfilment of medium-calorie coal requirements needed for the blending process of power plant fuel.
He explained that PLN’s coal requirement reaches approximately 154 million tonnes per year. Meanwhile, the coal supply assignment given by the Ministry of ESDM to mining companies to meet PLN’s needs reaches around 180 million to 190 million tonnes per year. “What has been contracted by PLN is 134 million tonnes. Actually, based on the contract between PLN and businesses, 134 million for one year, now it is only the sixth month, that should be no issue,” he explained.
However, the problem faced by PLN does not lie in the volume of coal supply, but rather in the availability of coal with the medium-calorie specifications required for power plant operations. The government, Bahlil said, has taken steps to assist PLN in meeting these needs so that the energy supply for generators is maintained.
In addition, Bahlil also requested that PLN accelerate the maintenance of electricity facilities to improve system reliability and prevent the recurrence of service disruptions. “We are asking PLN to immediately carry out maintenance to truly provide service certainty to the public,” said Bahlil.