Ilustrasi aktivitas tambang batu bara. (Foto: Bisnis.com)
JAKARTA — The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has begun evaluating the 2027 coal production work plans and budgets (RKAB) submitted by mining companies. The government has stressed that production quotas will remain controlled to keep coal prices stable and secure supply for domestic power plants.
Asep Kurnia Permana, Director of Coal Business Development at the ministry’s Directorate General of Minerals and Coal (Minerba), said each company’s production plan is now under review. “We asked all of you for your production plans. We are now evaluating them, in relation to setting production levels,” he said at Minerba Convex 2026 in Jakarta, as quoted by Bisnis.com.
Controlling Output to Protect Prices
Asep said regulating production through RKAB is a government tool to manage market supply and keep prices stable. The move continues the quota cuts in the 2026 RKAB, which are seen as having kept coal prices at a fairly good level. “The direction is to keep prices under control. You can all feel that coal prices are fairly good,” he said, as reported by Bloomberg Technoz.
The evaluation covers not only production plans but also marketing plans for domestic and export markets. Companies must account for their domestic market obligation (DMO), especially to meet the power sector’s needs. The government aims to issue 2027 RKAB approvals after the submission deadline closes on 15 November 2026.
2,065 Work Plan Submissions, Tighter Governance
The Minerba directorate recorded 2,065 mineral and coal RKAB submissions for 2026: 1,064 for minerals and 1,001 for coal. To speed up 2027 approvals, the government held early coaching clinics to help companies complete their documents.
Director General of Minerals and Coal Tri Winarno said RKAB evaluations assess whether production plans match reserves, operational capacity, safety, environmental management, and financial and state revenue obligations. “Speed of service must go hand in hand with consistency and evaluation. Every approved process must have a technical basis and legal certainty,” he said, as quoted by Warta Ekonomi.
Benefits for Communities Around Mines
The directorate’s presentation also showed that community development and empowerment (PPM) programs in the minerals and coal subsector reached Rp1.81 trillion by the second quarter of 2026, with 2,587 small businesses mentored by mining companies. PPM covers education, health, income generation, economic self-reliance, social and cultural programs, the environment, community institutions and infrastructure. The government is urging companies to align PPM with residents’ needs and regional development plans so communities keep benefiting even after mining ends.
Summarized from Bisnis.com, Bloomberg Technoz and Warta Ekonomi (in Indonesian).
