PLN Secures Additional 1.8 Million Tonnes of Coal to Bolster Java's Power Reliability
PT PLN (Persero) has secured an additional supply of 1.8 million tonnes of medium-to-high-calorie coal in July 2026 as part of efforts to reinforce the reliability of the electricity system on Java Island. The extra supply has been specifically allocated by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to increase the capable supply capacity of power plants.
PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo stated that the additional supply forms part of a roadmap to strengthen the electricity system after rolling blackouts on Java ended on 21 June 2026. From August to December 2026, coal supply will also be increased by 3 million tonnes per month, thereby boosting capable supply capacity by approximately 5 gigawatts from the existing capacity of 35.9 gigawatts.
“Firstly, for 2026 there is an additional supply of medium-to-high-calorie coal, specifically 4,500 calories and above, allocated especially for PLN by the Ministry of ESDM. This amounts to 1.8 million tonnes on top of the existing supply for July and 3 million tonnes per month from August to December,” Darmawan said during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission XII at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday (2/7/2026).
He explained that the additional supply makes the electricity system on Java more reliable. The measure also serves as a foundation for strengthening electricity supply before PLN adds generating capacity through various medium-term programmes.
Darmawan noted that the increase in coal supply follows a shift in the composition of national coal production. Production of low-calorie coal continues to rise, whilst production of medium-to-high-calorie coal is increasingly declining. “We acknowledge that in terms of volume, low-calorie coal production has increased, whereas medium-to-high-calorie coal production has declined,” he said.
According to him, PLN and the Ministry of ESDM have made adjustments by providing coal supplies with a calorie value of 4,500 and above outside of existing supply contracts. This step is intended to overcome the electricity supply constraints that had occurred on Java.
Darmawan said the additional coal supply has improved the condition of the electricity system. PLN has also followed up on the assignment supply contracts for the July to December 2026 period. “With this additional supply, the electricity provision constraints that had occurred on Java can be overcome and the rolling blackouts have been successfully resolved,” he stated.
PLN is also preparing permanent measures to prevent similar issues from recurring. One such measure involves retrofitting coal-fired power plants (PLTU) to enable them to use lower-calorie coal, which is more abundantly available. This effort is expected to maintain the reliability of the national electricity system whilst adapting plant operations to the changing characteristics of domestic coal production. PLN is also continuing to strengthen the system through additional generating capacity and the development of new renewable energy in line with the roadmap that has been drawn up.