Regarding Rotating Blackouts, Bahlil Issues This Directive to PLN

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia has asked PT PLN (Persero) to immediately address the technical obstacles that have triggered rotating power outages in a number of regions. The blackouts themselves are deemed to have caused discomfort for the public.

Bahlil stressed that operational control and the resolution of system disruption problems rest entirely under PLN’s authority. Bahlil has also established direct communication with PLN’s President Director to push for accelerated mitigation so that the blackout incidents do not recur.

“I have heard information that rotating blackouts have occurred in several areas. I ask PLN to immediately take measured, comprehensive steps to provide comfort for customers by ensuring there are no more blackouts,” he said in an official statement in Purworejo, Central Java, quoted on Monday (22/6/2026).

The government has asked PLN management to conduct a thorough evaluation of the operational system and ensure every process runs optimally. Bahlil emphasised that his ministry only acts on the regulatory side, while the smooth running of electricity operations is the full responsibility of the company.

“Immediately resolve this technical problem, because all these technical matters are indeed the authority and control of PLN. It is not the Directorate General of Electricity that operates the electricity, no. Not us. We handle the regulation, while the party carrying out the activities is PLN,” he asserted.

Additionally, he denied the assumption that the electricity disruption was caused by a shortage of primary energy stock at power plants. Based on data from the Ministry of ESDM, the total coal allocation given by the government to the state-owned company is claimed to be more than sufficient for annual needs.

“PLN’s total coal requirement is 154 million tonnes. Out of that 154 million, the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal has already assigned national coal companies a total of 180 to 190 million tonnes, of which 134 million tonnes have been contracted, meaning only about 18 million tonnes remain, right? Where is the shortage?” he explained.

Bahlil underscored that the obstacles occurring most likely lie in the distribution chain and logistics management within the company. The authorities are urging strengthened operational oversight so that electricity services to the public can be reliable again without technical disruptions in various regions.

“The technical aspect of getting it to the power plant is not the task of the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal. That is already a technical matter of PLN’s logistics management,” he concluded.