Mining Forum 2026: Government and Business Leaders Gather to Discuss Indonesia's Mining Industry

Mining Forum 2026, held at Menara Bank Mega in Jakarta on Thursday 6 March 2026, debated the question: ‘How is Indonesia’s mining industry faring?’ The forum gathered regulators, policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders to discuss developments in the mineral and coal sector. Attendees included Bambang Patijaya, Chair of Commission XII of the DPR RI; Irwandy Arif, Chairman of the Indonesia Mining Institute; Gita Mahyarani, Executive Director of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI); and Ahmad Kharis, Vice Chairman of I ASPINDO, among others.

Ezra Sibarani, Vice Chairman for Legal and Tax at the Indonesia Mining Association (IMA), outlined several developments shaping the domestic mining industry. A focal point was the 2026 RKAB (Rencana Kerja dan Anggaran Biaya) production target cuts. The RKAB 2026 sets coal production at 600 million tonnes, down from 790 million tonnes in 2025, while nickel production is targeted at 260–270 million tonnes, well below the 379 million tonnes target in 2025. Miners said the coal cut hit their plans hard, with the selection criteria for quotas not disclosed and investors already preparing for output enhancements to fulfil customer commitments, meaning RKAB 2026 could disrupt targets and cause losses.

Irwandy Arif, Chair of the Indonesia Mining Institute, noted the sector faces several headwinds, including the RI–US and EU trade agreements around critical minerals, obligations under the Nickel Passport, and price cycles, along with sudden RKAB quota policies and the impact of the US–Iran conflict. He argued the mining sector faces short- to medium-term pressures and advocated policies that strengthen structural resilience and transparency to prevent a transition to a mining crisis.

Gita Mahyarani, Executive Director of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI), echoed the concern that RKAB 2026 policy uncertainty had persisted for about a month, with miners lacking clarity on quotas and some APBI members facing 40–80% quota reductions without explanations.

Sudirman Widhy, Chair of the Indonesian Mining Professionals Association (Perhapi), warned that the production quota reductions in RKAB 2026 could disrupt long-term mine planning, with consequences for production and mine financing and potential impacts on mine worker layoffs.

Worsening production uncertainty was also seen as a risk to the mining services sector, according to Ahmad Kharis, Vice Chairman of I ASPINDO, who noted that 85% of mining work in coal is performed by ASPINDO members. If coal production falls by 25% in 2026, equipment and human resources would be unable to operate, and financing from banks and multifinance could be affected.

Regarding RKAB 2026, Siti Sumilah Rita Susilawati, Secretary of the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal (Ditjen Minerba) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), acting on behalf of Director General Tri Winarno, said RKAB 2026 is not a production cap but a production alignment. The policy relates to three aims: addressing supply-demand imbalances that pressure prices (particularly nickel), maintaining price stability, and preserving Indonesia’s mineral reserves.

Herry Permana, Assistant Deputy for Mineral Development at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, representing Deputy for Energy and Mineral Resources, Elen Setiadi, additionally stated that RKAB 2026 aligns with energy security and downstream development in Indonesia.

Bambang Patijaya, Chair of Commission XII of the DPR RI, described RKAB 2026 as a new policy that has sparked pro and contra debates. He argued that adjusting quotas is not a mere production constraint for coal and nickel but a tool to safeguard Indonesia’s mining sustainability, and it should be supported.

APLSI (Association of Private Power Producers) Committee Chair for Primary Energy Value Chain, Ferry Dwi Nugraha, remarked that the RKAB 2026 controversy at the start of 2026 disrupted coal supply to power plants, with delivery reductions caused by the lack of clarity over production quotas.