Coal output in South Sumatra plunges amid transport disruption
Monday, October 20 2025 - 09:36 AM WIB
Coal production in South Sumatra province has slumped by more than 50% after several mining companies suspended operations due to transport disruptions caused by the unfinished dedicated coal-hauling road.
South Sumatra Coal Mining Association (APBS) chairman Andi Asmara said mining operations in Muara Enim and Lahat regencies have been largely idle for nearly three months as companies wait for completion of the new dedicated transport route.
“Coal production in South Sumatra, especially in Muara Enim and Lahat, has dropped sharply — by more than 50%,” Andi said after attending a coordination meeting on the hauling road project at the South Sumatra Governor’s Office on Friday (Oct 17), as quoted by Bisnis.com.
The operational halt follows delays in completing the dedicated coal road, which is meant to replace coal truck traffic on public roads. The road currently stretches about 120 kilometers, short of the 150-kilometer target needed to fully link the mines in Muara Enim and Lahat.
“The goal is to connect all mining areas — from Tanjung Enim to Titan Group’s BAS mine, PT Bara Murti, the former ABS and GGB sites, Banjar Sri Bumi or C-Way RDP, and finally to the SLR road,” Andi explained.
Read also : South Sumatra bans coal trucks from public roads, explores new river transport
He said the association, together with the provincial government, is pushing to accelerate construction and find a workable solution that would allow mining operations to resume.
“We can’t say yet what the exact solution will look like, but coordination continues. Hopefully by January, we will start seeing progress,” Andi added.
The production downturn marks the latest setback for South Sumatra’s coal sector following a series of transport-related disruptions. In July, the collapse of the Muara Lawai Bridge in Lahat forced authorities to halt coal trucking. In August, the provincial government announced a ban on coal trucks using public roads starting January 2026 and began promoting the development of dedicated hauling roads and river transport alternatives along the Lematang and Musi rivers.
Authorities and mining firms have pledged to speed up infrastructure development to ensure stable coal logistics while reducing the environmental and social impact of coal transport through public routes.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak