CERAH Urges Acceleration of Solar Power Projects to Reduce Coal Dependency

Policy Strategist Coordinator at CERAH, Dwi Wulan Ramadani, has urged the acceleration of a 100 gigawatt (GW) solar power plant (PLTS) project to reduce dependence on coal supplies. “Our electricity dependence of more than 60 percent on coal-fired power plants (PLTU) makes our supply vulnerable because it must adjust to coal availability,” Dwi stated in an official release received in Jakarta on Friday. Dwi believes that maintaining problematic PLTUs will ultimately harm Indonesia. With President Prabowo’s ambition to build 100 GW of PLTS, she argued that troubled PLTU projects should be immediately replaced with solar power. She further noted that rolling blackouts still occur in several regions despite Indonesia relying on domestic coal production. “The development of PLTS must be balanced with the early retirement of PLTUs so that Indonesia does not repeat the oversupply incident of several years ago, while also ensuring the 100 GW project is realised and does not become a stranded asset causing state losses,” Dwi said. The government’s plan to build 100 GW of PLTS must be accompanied by consistency in reducing dependence on coal-fired steam power plants in the revision of PLN’s 2025–2034 Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL). Moreover, she noted that of the total additional 6.3 GW of PLTU in the RUPTL, several are indicated to be stalled. PLN itself acknowledges there are still 34 PLTUs categorised as constrained in the 2025–2034 RUPTL, some of which will be halted and the rest continued or replaced with other fuel-based power plants. However, beyond that list, several civil society organisations have also found other PLTUs struggling in their construction, namely Jambi 1 and 2, North Sumatra 1, and South-Central Kalimantan 3. Oscar Anugrah, Executive Director of WALHI Jambi, added that a number of PLTUs in Sumatra face utilisation challenges and long-term economic prospects amid increasing energy transition commitments. For example, the expansion of PLTU Jambi-1 and Jambi-2, each 600 MW, has stalled. This serves as evidence that the government needs to review coal-fired power projects that are not yet operational and push for the acceleration of green power plant development in the revised RUPTL. “We positively welcome the government’s plan to include the 100 GW PLTS development in the revision of PLN’s RUPTL. This revision must be a momentum to review new PLTU projects that are not yet operational,” said Oscar.