Energy Minister: Blackouts Due to Technical Issues, Not Coal Supply Shortage

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, stated that the coal supply to PT PLN (Persero) remains secure. He ensured that power outages are more closely related to technical operational aspects and distribution, which fall under the responsibility of PLN.

“I have requested PLN to immediately take measured and comprehensive steps to ensure customer comfort by preventing any further outages,” Minister Bahludalia said in an official statement received in Jakarta on Sunday.

According to Bahlil, the issue of power outages is not caused by a shortage of coal supply for power plants. He emphasised that the government, through the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal (Minerba), has anticipated the fuel needs of PLN’s power plants by assigning national coal companies to meet the demand.

Bahlil explained that PLN’s national coal requirement reaches 154 million tonnes per year. To guarantee supply availability, the government has assigned national coal companies a total of 180-190 million tonnes, which is significantly higher than the national requirement.

“Technically, getting it to the power plant is not the duty of the Director General of Minerba. That falls under the technical logistics management of PLN,” he said.

According to Bahlil, the emerging problems are more closely related to technical operational aspects and distribution, which are the responsibility of PLN.