ESDM grants additional coal production quota for PLN's needs
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has granted an additional coal production quota to meet the operational needs of PT PLN (Persero) power plants.
“For coal, the additional quota is only intended for PLN,” said Tri Winarno, Director General of Minerals and Coal at the ESDM Ministry, when met at the ministry’s office in Jakarta on Friday.
Tri emphasised that the government is working to maintain the stability of coal supplies.
The government does not want to restrict coal production in a way that causes supply problems for power plants, but is also striving to ensure that coal supply in the international market does not experience an oversupply.
“We are pursuing domestic needs, but we must avoid oversupply. That is all,” said Tri.
Nevertheless, Tri invited mining companies wishing to submit revisions to their Work Plans and Budgets (RKAB) to do so by 31 July.
“Please, go ahead and submit your RKAB revisions,” said Tri.
PT PLN (Persero) President Director Darmawan Prasodjo has assured that there will be no further blackouts in Java, and the company is strengthening the electricity system to ensure such incidents do not happen again.
Darmawan said that in the short term, PLN has received additional coal supplies with a calorific value above 4,500 kcal per kg.
“There is additional coal with a specification of 4,500 kcal and above. This July there is an additional 1.8 million tonnes, then from August to December there is an additional roughly 3 million tonnes on top of existing supplies,” said Darmawan.
In addition, the company will retrofit coal-fired steam power plants (PLTU) so they can use lower-calorie coal, thereby preventing rolling blackouts.
Darmawan explained that the modification would enable power plants to use coal with a lower calorific value. The retrofitting of PLTU Suralaya units 6 and 7 was cited by Darmawan as an example of successful plant modification.
The two generating units are now able to use low-calorie coal of around 4,100–4,300 kcal per kg, lower than the original specification which required coal of 4,600–4,800 kcal per kg.