PLN Watch: Coal corruption probe should be momentum for reform
Jakarta (ANTARA) - PLN Watch Chairman KRT Tohom Purba believes the investigation into alleged corruption in coal supply fulfilment should be a momentum to strengthen primary energy security while preventing electricity disruptions that could have a broad impact on economic activity.
“When the primary energy supply is problematic, the impact does not stop in the procurement administration room because the issue can spread to power plants, the electricity grid, economic activity, hospitals, transport, communications, and people’s lives,” Tohom said in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday.
PLN Watch is pushing for a comprehensive overhaul of the governance of coal procurement and supply for power plants to strengthen the reliability of the electricity system that supports industrial activity, public services, and the public economy.
According to him, electricity reliability plays a strategic role in maintaining the continuity of industrial production, downstream processing, digitalisation, and community business activities, so certainty of the quality and continuity of primary energy supply requires strict supervision.
He assessed that the investigation into the alleged irregularities in coal supply fulfilment must fully uncover the procurement chain, from supplier companies, surveyors, testing laboratories, transporters, procurement officials, supervisors, to the receiving parties.
Tohom said a thorough examination is necessary to determine the conformity of coal quality and volume with the contract and its relation to the power plant’s ability to generate electricity optimally.
“PLN is an electricity service operator that is highly dependent on the certainty of quality and continuity of primary energy. Coal that does not match the contract can affect the power plant’s ability to generate electricity optimally,” he stated.
Therefore, PLN Watch is pushing for a forensic audit of coal quality, delivery volumes, laboratory test results, shipping documents, weighing processes, and payments.
According to Tohom, every discrepancy between contract documents and actual supply conditions must be traced to identify the source of the disruption and serve as a basis for reforming the procurement system.
He also urged law enforcement officials to trace the flow of funds and the connection between the alleged procurement irregularities and operational disruptions at power plants and the electricity system.
“The flow of funds must be uncovered to identify the parties who enjoyed the proceeds of crime, while the trail of disruptions must be traced to understand how supply manipulation can develop into a threat to national energy infrastructure,” he said.