Police to Summon Energy Ministry Officials in Coal Corruption Case

The Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortas Tipikor) of the Indonesian National Police will summon parties from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in connection with an investigation into alleged corruption in coal procurement at several coal-fired power plants (PLTUs). The ministry officials will be examined as witnesses.

‘There are several witnesses, including from the Ministry of ESDM, who will be examined going forward,’ said Head of the Police’s Kortas Tipikor, Inspector General Totok Suharyanto, during a press conference at National Police Headquarters on Monday (6/7/2026).

Totok stated that 16 witnesses have been examined so far. Investigators had previously scheduled summonses for 34 witnesses. ‘Initially, we issued summonses for 34 people, but only 16 have been able to be clarified so far,’ he said.

The case was elevated to the investigation stage earlier this month. It is registered under case number SP.Sidik/63/VII/RES.3.1./2026/Kortastipidkor, dated 4 July 2026. According to Totok, in addition to the dozen witnesses, investigators have also analysed a number of documents to shed light on the case. ‘We have also analysed several documents, leading us to uncover the criminal act of corruption, which is why we elevated it to the investigation stage,’ Totok stated.

Director of Enforcement at Kortas Tipikor, Brigadier General Robertus Yohanes De Deo, added that several methods were allegedly used by the suspects in this case, including document manipulation. Investigators also discovered manipulation related to the quantity of coal supplied to the PLTUs, as well as alleged irregularities that resulted in payments or contract prices not matching the actual or real supply conditions. These manipulative methods caused state losses estimated at up to Rp 5 trillion.

‘As a result of these actions, coupled with economic losses related to the occurrence of blackouts, it is indicated that state financial and economic losses amount to approximately Rp 5 trillion,’ De Deo said. He added that these manipulative practices contributed to disruptions in coal supply, leading to blackouts in several regions of Indonesia. ‘We suspect these actions or methods also contributed to the disruption of coal supplies, which impacted the occurrence of blackouts or power outages in several regions of Indonesia, such as parts of Sumatra, parts of Kalimantan, Central Java, East Java, and parts of Jabodetabek,’ De Deo concluded.