RKAB Issued! Bayan Coal Production Increased, Bahlil Responds
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, has addressed the issuance of the Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) for the coal mining company PT Bayan Resources Tbk (BYAN). The Ministry of ESDM has approved an increase in coal production through the RKAB for three of Bayan’s subsidiaries, amounting to between 15 million and 20 million tonnes.
As previously reported, conglomerate Samsudin Andi Arsyad, popularly known as Haji Isam, through PT Jhonlin Barata, is set to acquire approximately 30% of the coal shares owned by one of the wealthiest individuals, Lo Tuck Kwong.
Bahlil emphasised that the approval of Bayan’s RKAB submission is unrelated to the acquisition of the company. “There is no connection; it is simply a process. The matter of the transaction is B2B (business-to-business), whereas the RKAB is a matter of administrative process,” Bahlil explained on Tuesday (22/09/2026).
He added that the RKAB submission had been made by Bayan since the beginning and is currently being processed.
Previously, the Director General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of ESDM, Tri Winarno, confirmed that the issuance of the revised RKAB documents for the three Bayan Group subsidiaries has been completed.
“It is for all three, I believe. Around 15 to 20 million tonnes? Yes, somewhere in between,” said Tri.
He emphasised that the RKAB approval process was strictly based on technical evaluation criteria and was not linked to issues regarding share transfer transactions. “There is actually no sensitive issue, yet people continue to link it to share purchases and so on. That is not the case,” he asserted.
The government noted that the additional coal production volume approved in the RKAB revision is intended for three Bayan subsidiaries that were previously completing administrative requirements. From the total applications submitted, the additional quota issued is estimated to be between 15 million and 20 million tonnes.
“I do not know the specific details, but there are several requirements for the RKAB, such as matrices and so on; I do not know the specifics,” he added.
He also addressed the issue regarding the granting of additional RKABs being linked to the entry of new shareholders into the company. The government emphasised that any corporate action involving a change in shareholders must obtain official permission from the Minister of ESDM to be legally valid.
“No. The point is this: a change in shareholders must have the Minister’s permission. So, if it is merely an initial agreement, that is fine. However, a change in shareholders is only valid once it has received the Minister’s approval,” he concluded.