Jakarta, en.SERU.co.id – Parts of Java have been experiencing scheduled rolling blackouts in recent days after disruptions at two major PLN power plants, compounded by coal supply problems.
The state electricity company has been forced to implement limited and carefully managed load shedding in affected areas to keep the overall power system stable. Executive Vice President for Corporate Communications and TJSL at PLN, Gregorius Adi Trianto, said the measure was necessary due to technical operational issues at the plants.
“This is temporary. We are accelerating recovery by maximizing output from other operating plants to minimize the impact on customers,” he assured. PLN has apologized for the inconvenience.
Growing Frustration in Parliament
Lawmakers are increasingly critical of the frequency and duration of the outages. Member of Commission VI of the House of Representatives, Mufti Anam, said the blackouts are becoming more common and longer, burdening households, businesses, schools, and public services alike.
“These prolonged outages don’t just disrupt daily life at home — they also hit economic activity, education, and public services hard,” he said.
Coal Supply Shortfall Confirmed
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has acknowledged difficulties in securing enough coal for PLN’s power plants. Minister Bahlil Lahadalia revealed a shortfall of around 18 to 20 million tons against PLN’s total 2026 requirement of 154 million tons.
As of mid-2026, PLN has only secured contracts for about 134 million tons. The ministry noted particular constraints with medium-calorie coal (around 5,200 kcal), though it described the overall primary energy supply situation as still under control. The government is now working with mining companies to close the gap quickly.
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Expert Points to Flaws in Domestic Supply Rules
Energy economist Fahmy Radhi from Universitas Gadjah Mada sees deeper problems in the coal supply chain to PLN. He highlighted weaknesses in the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) policy, which requires mining companies to allocate 20% of their production for domestic needs.
“The regulation only sets the annual 20% obligation but doesn’t specify clear delivery timelines. When international coal prices are high, miners tend to prioritize exports because they’re more profitable, delaying domestic supplies,” Fahmy explained.
This, he said, can lead to uneven coal deliveries throughout the year and leave power plants vulnerable during periods of high electricity demand.
PLN says it continues to monitor the situation closely and will gradually lift the load management as supply improves. (aan/mzm)
