Indonesia's Diesel Power Plants Set to Be Phased Out: Here's Their Capacity

PT PLN (Persero) is ready to follow President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to halt operations of Diesel Power Plants (PLTD) based on petroleum fuels (BBM). This is aimed at strengthening national energy sovereignty by diverting dependence on BBM to cleaner energy sources.

PLN’s President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, explained that the company has mapped a total of 2,139 PLTD units at 741 locations across Indonesia to be replaced with clean energy.

The company assured that the transition will be carried out gradually by utilising available New Renewable Energy (EBT) potentials in each region.

“PLN has also planned to reduce BBM consumption in the electricity sector at 741 Diesel Power Plant locations with a total of around 2,139 diesel engines. Of course, we consider whether there is hydro or micro-hydro available at those locations,” he stated during a Hearing with Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta, quoted on Tuesday (14/4/2026).

For regions without water source potential, PLN is preparing a scheme to build Solar Power Plants (PLTS), along with battery energy storage systems or Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This technology is key to ensuring stable and reliable electricity supply even when shifting from fossil energy.

“If not, then we design and build Solar Power Plants equipped with Battery Energy Storage Systems,” he said.

Darmawan emphasised that by minimising the use of BBM, which is dominated by imports, the company hopes to lower the basic cost of electricity production, making it more competitive for the investment climate.

PLN is also designing the construction of a green enabling super grid transmission spanning 48,000 kilometres of circuits. This infrastructure serves to evacuate power from renewable energy potential locations in remote areas to load centres in urban areas.

“This is the main topic in accelerating the energy transition, not just shifting from fossil to renewable energy, but more importantly, energy independence and self-sufficiency. Energy security. How to transform energy based on imports and replace it with energy based on domestic strength,” he stressed.

Previously, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto firmly stated that he would close Diesel Power Plants (PLTD) or plants using petroleum fuels (BBM). In line with that, the government will build Solar Power Plants (PLTS) with a capacity of up to 100 Gigawatts (GW) within the next two years.

Prabowo conveyed that the government has decided to implement a 100 GW electrification programme.

“There will be no more power plants using diesel or solar. No,” clarified President Prabowo during the inauguration of the electric commercial vehicle assembly facility of PT Vektor Teknologi Mobilitas Tbk in Magelang, Central Java, on Thursday (9/4/2026).

“With that, we will close 13 diesel power plants under PLN,” Prabowo added.

In Prabowo’s notes, by closing those diesel plants, Indonesia can save 200,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) or 20% of national oil imports. Currently, Indonesia imports around 1 million barrels of oil per day.

“We still need to import 1 million barrels a day. By closing the PLTD, we immediately save 20%. With the 100 GW later, we will save enormously, perhaps in two or three years we won’t need to import BBM at all,” he said.

“We have great strength, we are truly strong, we will stand on our own feet,” Prabowo asserted firmly.