Latest: ESDM Approves 580 Million Tonnes of Coal for 2026 RKAB
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has approved coal production permits within the 2026 Work and Budget Plan (RKAB), totalling 580 million tonnes.
The Director General of Mineral and Coal (Dirjen Minerba) of the Ministry of ESDM, Tri Winarno, explained that the approval process for coal RKAB is still ongoing and has the potential to increase. His side is targeting the completion of all approvals soon.
“If using the 2026 one, it’s almost finished. The coal RKAB is already at 580 million tonnes,” Tri revealed when met at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Jakarta, Friday (27/3/2026).
The Ministry of ESDM had previously decided to cut the coal and nickel production targets for this year in the 2026 Work and Budget Plan (RKAB).
This was done to maintain a balance between the supply and demand of those commodities in the global market, ultimately to boost commodity prices this year.
Coal production in the 2026 RKAB is targeted at around 600 million tonnes. This figure is lower than the 2025 production realisation of 790 million tonnes.
However, based on the latest developments, following a meeting with several economic ministers today, Friday (27/3/2026), at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy office, the Minister of ESDM Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the government will consider measured relaxations for coal and nickel production.
“I said, I said that first, there is no policy change yet. But we will follow developments by implementing measured relaxations,” Bahlil said at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Friday (27/3/2026).
According to Bahlil, these measured relaxations would allow for additional production volumes, with the main condition being that commodity prices remain at a profitable level, and the balance of supply and demand is maintained.
“With the note that the price must be good and the supply and demand must be balanced. And most importantly, our domestic needs must be fully met,” Bahlil said.