Production Cut: Is Coal Supply Safe for Electricity? Ministry of Energy Responds

Jakarta — The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has responded to reports that several coal-fired power plants (PLTUs) are experiencing coal supply shortages. This issue has emerged amid delays in approving the Work Plan and Budget Allocation (RKAB) and plans to adjust coal production.

Deputy Energy Minister Yuliot Tanjung explained that the government has conducted intensive coordination with PT PLN (Persero) to ensure adequate supply of primary energy, particularly coal.

“We have coordinated with PLN regarding the primary energy requirements derived from coal, so that PLN can identify which power plants are most urgent and specify their needs,” Yuliot said during a meeting at the Energy Ministry on Friday (27 February 2026).

According to Yuliot, coal requirements for domestic power generation should generally be sufficient. The Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) policy mandates that approximately 30% of total coal production be allocated for domestic needs, including power generation.

“So, in terms of requirements, it should be sufficient,” Yuliot stated.

However, he acknowledged that the issues arising are more related to delivery from mining locations to power plants. According to him, the ordering and procurement system must operate promptly to prevent stock shortages in the field.

“For example, each power plant must maintain a minimum 20-day reserve of primary energy. So once this drops below 20 days, the ordering system must be properly activated based on the existing RKAB, and the procurement process must avoid any delays,” he explained.

Furthermore, Yuliot noted that Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia is giving serious attention to this issue. This is because the ministry does not want disruptions to primary energy supply that could affect the operations of domestic power plants.

“Primary energy is not only coal but also includes LNG availability for power plants and gas distributed through pipelines, which are also among our priorities,” Yuliot said.