BIB advances coal mine electrification with fast-charging hubs

By Adianto P. Simamora

PT Borneo Indobara (BIB) is accelerating its mine electrification program by building dedicated fast-charging hubs along its exclusive hauling road, supporting the operation of 156 electric mining units, including battery-electric dump trucks used to transport coal between pit and port.

The initiative forms part of BIB’s broader strategy to shift from diesel-based operations to electricity, a move the company says will enhance efficiency, reduce emissions intensity and strengthen Indonesia’s energy security by increasing domestic coal absorption.

Riyadi Pinem, BIB’s Head of Mining Engineering (KTT), said the current charging system is designed so each truck can operate for a full shift on a single charge, supported by strategically located charging stations.

“We use large batteries to avoid frequent charging. The goal is to use the vehicle for one full shift—about 10 hours—on a single charge. The bigger the battery, the better,” he said.

The electric dump trucks are equipped with 600 kWh batteries and can be recharged from 20 percent to 90 percent in about 40 to 45 minutes using four charging connectors—two on each side of the vehicle. One of the main charging stations, designed like a toll-gate structure, can serve up to 10 dump trucks simultaneously.

Under the current operating cycle, a single charge provides around six hours of operation, allowing roughly three round trips along BIB’s dedicated hauling road—22 kilometers to the port and about 20 kilometers back to the mine—effectively covering one working shift.

BIB currently operates two charging points, one at the port and one in the middle of the route, and plans to build a third charging hub to further strengthen what it calls its electric hauling ecosystem.

Read also: BIB targets 75 percent electric mining fleet by 2029

The electrification push was formally launched as part of BIB’s broader transformation strategy. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Bonifasius, President Director of IDX-listed coal firm PT Golden Energy Mines Tbk (IDX: GEMS), the parent of BIB, said the program is not merely about replacing diesel equipment, but about repositioning the company within Indonesia’s evolving energy landscape.

“At the national level, electrification will increase domestic electricity demand, drive the development of new power plants, create jobs in the energy sector, and even boost domestic coal absorption—between 25 and 32 million tons (42 GAR) for national power supply,” he said.

He added that channeling more coal into the domestic power system through electrified mining operations would help reduce exposure to volatility in export markets and shifting international policies on coal use.

According to the company, by cutting diesel consumption and sourcing electricity from the grid, BIB expects to gradually lower its emissions intensity while aligning its operations with Indonesia’s broader plans for a gradual and just energy transition.

Through the combination of operational electrification and domestic market integration, BIB aims to position itself not only as a coal producer, but as a strategic contributor to national energy resilience.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak