KAI's Coal Transport Becomes a Key Component of Energy Distribution in Java and Bali
In Java and Bali, electricity needs continue to rise in line with societal activities and economic growth. Schools, hospitals, public transport, digital data centres, industrial areas, and government services require a stable energy supply every day.
Within the national electricity structure, coal remains one of the primary sources for power generation. Therefore, the continuity of coal distribution plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of societal activities and the national economy.
One such distribution is carried out via rail transport. From January to April 2026, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) transported 16,631,048 tons of coal. Specifically, in April 2026, the transport volume reached 4,633,495 tons.
Most of this transport supports power generation needs, particularly in Java and Bali, which according to 2025 Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data are home to more than 163 million inhabitants or around 58% of Indonesia’s population.
KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba stated that energy distribution requires transport modes with large capacity, stable operational patterns, and the ability to maintain supply continuity in the long term.
“Energy distribution is directly linked to societal activities and economic productivity. Therefore, a stable transport pattern is essential to ensure the energy supply chain runs smoothly,” said Anne.
In the national logistics system, railways are considered suitable for transporting bulk commodities over long distances. In addition to large capacity, rail tracks separate from road traffic make distribution more predictable in terms of travel time and operational patterns.
The CC205 locomotive, for example, can pull up to 61 wagons, equivalent to around 3,050 tons of goods in one trip. This capacity is estimated to be equivalent to about 120 forty-foot container trucks.
From a logistics perspective, the large transport capacity in a single trip also provides distribution efficiency and helps reduce the movement of heavy vehicles on certain road routes.
To increase coal transport capacity, KAI continues to strengthen facilities and conduct operational testing. One such effort is the trial of one CC205 locomotive on 12 May 2026 on the South Sumatra route.
The testing involved pulling a train of 60 coal wagons on an uphill track. In the simulation, the train was stopped at several uphill points, then the rails were sprayed with water to test the locomotive’s adhesion capability when the journey resumed under more challenging track conditions.
The test results showed that the locomotive was still able to pull the train with a load of around 4,000 tons on that track. This testing was conducted to measure the performance of the equipment in supporting the increasing volume of coal transport.
According to Anne, strengthening goods transport capacity needs to be done gradually because national logistics distribution needs are also continuously increasing.
“The reliability of logistics distribution will be one of the key factors in supporting economic growth and national energy resilience. Therefore, capacity development is carried out with a measured approach based on long-term needs,” said Anne.
This facility development is part of KAI’s investment worth USD 222.5 million or approximately Rp3.56 trillion. This investment is projected to support a coal transport target of 111.2 million tons and non-coal transport of 10.9 million tons by 2029.
KAI also promotes national industry strengthening through the use of domestically produced equipment. All 54-ton flat wagons are produced domestically through collaboration with PT INKA, optimising the Domestic Component Level (TKDN).
In addition to supporting logistics capacity increases, this equipment development is prepared to support transport growth in the South Sumatra region, including the Tarahan II and Kertapati projects, which are projected to boost goods distribution volumes in the coming years.
Anne added that energy distribution often operates behind the scenes of societal activities without much visibility, yet it has a significant impact on daily life continuity.
“When energy distribution runs stably, learning spaces remain lit, health services continue to operate, and economic activities can keep moving,” Anne concluded.