PTBA Chief Executive Open About Coal Reserves, Here Are the Figures

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – President Director of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), Bambang Ismawan, has revealed that the company’s coal reserves remain relatively small, particularly when compared to total national coal reserves.

Bambang said that PTBA currently holds coal resources of 5.71 billion tonnes, while its reserves stand at 2.88 billion tonnes.

“Allow me to report that PT Bukit Asam currently holds coal resources amounting to 5.71 billion tonnes and reserves of 2.88 billion tonnes,” he said during a hearing with Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives on Tuesday (15/9/2026).

According to him, compared with national reserves of approximately 97.96 billion tonnes, PTBA’s share of reserves is only around 9.01%. Meanwhile, PTBA’s share of resources is said to be only around 5.83% of national coal resources.

“Furthermore, its resources are even smaller, at just 5.83%. National reserves reach 97.96 billion tonnes, but those held by PT Bukit Asam are only 5.71 billion tonnes,” he said.

Bambang considered the situation rather worrying, given that PTBA is the only state-owned coal company. In terms of production, PTBA currently ranks fifth among the major coal companies.

“The same applies to coal production. PT Bukit Asam is in fifth position compared with similar companies. First is PT Bumi Resources, then Adaro Indonesia, Bayan Group, Sinar Mas Group, and fifth is PT Bukit Asam. So we are in fifth place,” he explained.

Beyond the reserve issue, he also highlighted the implementation of coal sales for the domestic market obligation (DMO). Under the prevailing regulations, the DMO requirement is set at 25% of production.

Nevertheless, PTBA is said to have consistently fulfilled its DMO well above that requirement, even reaching more than 54%.

“In 2025, as an illustration of the period from 2021 to 2025 as shown in the table, it has always been more than double the required 25%. And we have tried to calculate how much profit declines because we exceed the 25% threshold,” he said.