Coal Supply Is Safe, Stock Enough for 20 Days
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized that power outages in some parts of Indonesia were not due to a lack of coal supply to steam power plants (PLTU). In his statement in Jakarta on Thursday (17/8/2023), he stated: "Coal supply to PLTU is safe. Currently, the average stock in PLTU is sufficient for 20 days of operations."
This statement refutes public speculation linking the power outages to a coal crisis. Data from the Ministry of ESDM shows that the realization of domestic coal supply (Domestic Market Obligation/DMO) throughout 2023 has reached 90.2 million tons by the end of July—about 60% of the annual target of 150 million tons. This achievement confirms that the obligation of coal suppliers to PT PLN (Persero) is proceeding as planned.
Root Cause: Transmission Issues and Power Plant Maintenance
According to Bahlil, the main cause of the power outages is technical factors—particularly disruptions in high-voltage transmission lines (SUTET) and routine maintenance of several PLTU units. "Some PLTU are in maintenance periods, and there are also transmission disruptions that have disturbed the electricity supply to consumers," he said.
Data from PT PLN (Persero) recorded that in early August 2023, trips occurred on several 500 kV transmission networks in Central and Eastern Java—which triggered widespread power outages. Similar incidents occurred in Sumatra and Kalimantan, although on a smaller scale. This situation was exacerbated by a surge in electricity demand during the dry season, when the use of air conditioners and other cooling equipment increased sharply.
Real Impact and Quick Response
The power outages directly affected household and business activities. In the household sector, the disruption hindered the use of air conditioners, water pumps, and essential electronic devices. In the business sector—especially SMEs and small industries—the power outages caused production losses. A bread shop owner in Bandung reported that power outages lasting three to four hours each day made his electric oven unable to operate optimally, thus reducing daily production capacity by up to 40%.
As a response, PLN has deployed emergency teams across all regions to accelerate the identification and repair of disruptions. The Ministry of ESDM also asked PLN to optimize the use of gas power plants and renewable energy as backup sources. In addition, the government is accelerating the construction of new transmission networks—especially in the Java-Bali and Sumatra corridors—to reduce the load on aging infrastructure.
System Reliability: A Long-Term Strategic Priority
This incident highlights that the reliability of the electricity system is not only about the availability of raw materials, but also the resilience of the infrastructure. Although coal supply is guaranteed, the weak points lie in the transmission network, which is vulnerable to disruptions, and power plants that require regular maintenance.
Dr. Fauzi, an energy observer from the University of Indonesia, emphasized the need for modernizing the transmission system and increasing energy storage capacity. "Without sustainable investment in the network and load management, an increase in electrification ratio will not mean much if the supply is unstable," he said.
The government still targets a national electrification ratio of 100% by 2024. However, reliability—not just coverage—has now become the main benchmark. With thorough technical planning and priority budget allocation for infrastructure upgrades, power outages caused by technical disruptions can be significantly reduced within the next five years.