Minister Bahlil assures coal stock for PLN is secure until April

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia guarantees coal stock for steam-electric power plants (PLTU) PLN (Persero) is still safe until April 2026.

“For PLN needs, I assure that up to March, April, no issue,” said ESDM Minister Bahlil Lahadalia at the press conference on “Recent Developments in the Middle East and Implications for the ESDM Sector,” held at the Office of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Jakarta, on Tuesday.

The government, he added, continues to monitor PLN’s coal needs. Bahlil’s statement relates to reports that PLN is facing a coal supply crisis as a result of coal production cuts in 2026.

Coal production quota for 2026 is set at around 600 million tonnes, or about 190 million tonnes lower than 2025’s realised 790 million tonnes.

Bahlil said the production cut is a government strategy to find a balance between coal supply and demand, so that prices improve.

“Let us not flood the market with cheap goods. Related to this, we are reorganising RKAB by prioritising the national supply, including PLN,” Bahlil said.

Earlier reports stated that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) was communicating with PLN (Persero) to anticipate a shortage of coal supply for steam-electric power plants (PLTU).