Kortastipidkor Investigates Alleged Coal Corruption, Bahlil Ready to Provide Data

The Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor) of the Indonesian National Police is investigating alleged corruption and money laundering related to the procurement of coal supplies. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia stated his readiness to assist with the legal process. “We respect the legal process, please go ahead. If data is requested from ESDM, we will provide it,” Bahlil said when met after the launch of the B50 Mandatory Biodiesel Programme at Km 57 of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday, July 9, 2026. He also emphasised that the ongoing legal process must be respected by all parties.

Kortastipidkor is investigating the procurement of coal supplies for several coal-fired power plants (PLTU) during the 2018-2026 period. Brigadier General Robertus Yohanes De Deo, Director of Criminal Acts at Kortastipidkor, stated at the National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) building in Jakarta on Monday, July 6, 2026, that there were three alleged modus operandi in the case. These include the manipulation of documents regarding the quality of coal supplied, manipulation of the quantity of coal supplied to the PLTUs, and irregularities resulting in payments or contract prices that did not match the actual supply conditions.

According to De Deo, these practices are suspected to have contributed to disruptions in coal supply, which led to blackouts in several regions of Indonesia, including parts of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Central Java, East Java, and the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek). He revealed that the alleged actions are indicated to have caused state financial losses of approximately Rp5 trillion. “However, regarding this value, we are currently coordinating with the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK RI) to conduct an official investigative audit to determine the real and definitive figure,” he said.