Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, has guaranteed that coal stocks for PT PLN (Persero)’s coal-fired power plants (PLTU) remain secure until April 2026.

"For PLN's needs, I ensure that through March and April, there is no issue," stated Minister Bahlil Lahadalia during a Press Conference on Recent Middle East Developments and Their Implications for the ESDM Sector, held at the Ministry of ESDM Office in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The government, he continued, consistently monitors PLN's coal requirements. Bahlil’s statement addresses reports that PLN was facing a coal supply crisis following the reduction of coal production targets for 2026.

The 2026 coal production quota has been set at approximately 600 million tons, a decrease of about 190 million tons compared to the 2025 realization, which reached 790 million tons.

This reduction is being implemented through production quota limits established by the government in the respective Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) of each mining company.

Bahlil explained that the production cut is a government strategy to find a balance between supply and demand, thereby facilitating a price recovery.

"We should not sell our commodities at bargain prices. In relation to that, we are restructuring the RKAB by prioritizing the fulfillment of national needs, including PLN," Bahlil said.

Previously, the Ministry of ESDM had communicated with PT PLN (Persero) to anticipate potential coal supply shortages for its power plants. In a meeting with PLN, the Ministry requested that the utility company map out which power plants are in urgent or emergency status.

Regarding supply, Deputy Minister of ESDM Yuliot stated that needs should already be met through the obligation of coal mining companies to sell approximately 30 percent of their production to PLN under the coal Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) scheme.

Yuliot noted that the primary challenge lies in the logistics of transporting coal from mine sites to the power plants. For example, some plants require a minimum coal reserve of 20 days. To ensure reserves do not fall below this threshold, Yuliot emphasized the importance of timely procurement.

"We must ensure that there are no delays in procurement," he concluded.

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