Cirebon Power Optimises Coal-Fired Power Plant to Support Safe Electricity Supply During Eid al-Fitr

Two units owned by Cirebon Power are operating optimally to support the availability of electricity in the 150 kV and 500 kV networks, the company said. Deputy President Director Joseph Pangalila in Cirebon on Friday said: “We continue to work. The two plants of Cirebon Power operate optimally to support the availability of electricity in the 150 kV and 500 kV networks.” He explained that electricity demand during Lebaran is generally lower as many industries and factories suspend activities, resulting in lower system load. This condition helps maintain the stability of electricity supply during the migration period and the Idul Fitri holidays. However, Joseph acknowledged that potential coal-supply constraints remain a concern, since coal is the main fuel for the two PLTUs in Cirebon. He said shortages in coal in recent times have been influenced by several factors, including the domestic market obligation (DMO) policy, which keeps coal prices for power plants lower than in other sectors. “DMO coal for power plants is around USD 70 per ton, while for other sectors such as cement it can reach around USD 90 per ton, and for smelters prices follow market,” he said. Given this condition, suppliers often prioritise sales to higher-priced sectors, so supply to power plants could be reduced. Joseph noted that coal stocks at the Cirebon plants vary, with some units having more than 10 days of operation in reserve and others less than 10 days. Therefore, the government is currently engaging with coal suppliers to increase supply to power plants. “We hope for government advocacy to increase coal supply to power plants,” he said. He stressed that PLTU has no alternative fuel in the short term, as the plant facilities were specifically designed to use coal. “Coal-fired PLTU are designed to use coal. Replacing with another type of coal is not easy because each plant has different fuel specifications,” he said. He added that in late February 2026, PLTU Cirebon Unit-II completed the maintenance of its facility, or major overhaul (MOH) Type C, as targeted. He said the maintenance process ran smoothly without incidents, and the company recorded 4.9 million safe-man-hours. “This Thursday, ensure electricity supply remains safe by operating two Cirebon PLTUs,” he said.