TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Director of state-owned electricity firm PLN, Darmawan Prasodjo, stated that they are currently channeling medium-rank coal to several steam power plants (PLTU) across Java. These facilities are assets owned directly by PLN, its business partners, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
Among the western Java power plants slated to receive this medium-rank coal supply are PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu, PLTU Lontar, PLTU Labuan, PLTU Suralaya units 1 to 8, PLTU Jawa 7, PLTU Jawa 9 and 10, and PLTU Indramayu.
Meanwhile, the designated facilities in eastern Java include PLTU Paiton units 1 and 2, PLTU Paiton 9, PLTU Rembang, PLTU Pacitan, and PLTU Tanjung Awar-awar.
"On behalf of PLN, we would like to extend our deepest apologies for the rolling blackouts experienced across Java," Darmawan announced during a press conference on Friday evening, as monitored from a live broadcast on Garuda TV's YouTube channel on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
PLN is accelerating its coal procurement process to meet the needs of these power plants. The targeted supply consists of medium-rank calorific value coal. "We are also expediting the contract-signing process with coal suppliers, particularly for the medium-rank coal allotments assigned by the government," he added, as quoted by state news agency Antara.
To expedite this procurement drive, Darmawan has been coordinating intensively and continuously with Tri Winarno, the Director General of Minerals and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
Through this coordination, Darmawan expressed optimism that the contract finalization can be wrapped up swiftly. "With the allocation of medium-rank coal and direct guidance from ESDM Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, PLN will implement the improvements to ensure smooth electricity supply," Darmawan assured.
Minister Bahlil Lahadalia explained that PLN's total coal requirement stands at 154 million metric tons annually. To date, PLN has successfully secured contracts for 134 million tons, leaving a supply gap of approximately 20 million tons.
The ESDM Ministry acknowledged that securing medium-rank coal has grown difficult, particularly the 5,200 kcal per kg GAR specification required by PLN’s power stations. In response, Bahlil formed a dedicated task force focused specifically on procuring medium-rank coal to help PLN bridge its supply deficit.
Bahlil also opened the door to revising the domestic coal pricing mechanism for PLN, citing rising production costs for mining companies and the broader challenge of maintaining a steady supply of medium-rank coal. The price adjustment is being weighed to help producers meet their Domestic Market Obligation (DMO), which currently caps the price of coal for PLN at US$70 per ton.
The rolling blackouts disrupted various regions across Java from June 8 to June 19, 2026. According to Tempo’s records, the power outages hit multiple areas spanning every province on the island, including the capital city of Jakarta.
Most recently, blackouts were reported in several neighborhoods across Yogyakarta, as well as in Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten, on Friday, June 19, 2026.
In addition to the capped DMO price, Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) Executive Director Gita Mahyarani pointed to other systemic issues constraining the availability of coal for domestic power generation.
According to Gita, a major bottleneck stems from the government's policy of tightening production quotas through the 2026 Work Plan and Budget (RKAB), which has restricted miners' operational flexibility. "Especially now, production is undergoing adjustments through the RKAB, so producers' flexibility is not as extensive as before," she noted.
Read: What Caused PLN's Rolling Power Outages Across Java
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