Prabowo reaffirms domestic priority for coal before exports

By Adianto P Simamora

President Prabowo Subianto insisted that coal exports will only be allowed after domestic needs are secured, reaffirming the government’s priority on national supply.

 “I stress here that all coal production is prioritized for our national needs,” Prabowo said at the plenary cabinet meeting at the State Palace on March 13, 2026.

He added that the same principle also applied to other commodities, including palm oil.

Prabowo also underlined that Indonesia’s natural resources belong to the nation, not to business owners, although companies are allowed to operate them under concession.

The statement followed a report from Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia during the cabinet meeting, who said coal supply at all coal-fired power plants, including plants owned by independent power producers and state utility PLN, was currently averaging 14 days.

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He said the level remained within the national minimum standard and rejected media reports suggesting that Indonesia was facing a coal supply crisis for power generation.

 “If national needs are not fulfilled, then we will not issue export permits. Our orientation is domestic needs,” Bahlil said.

He added that coal companies with approved Work Plans and Budget (RKAB) are required to meet their domestic market obligation, and that the ministry has prepared a ministerial decree requiring coal output to first meet domestic demand before the remainder can be exported.

The remarks reinforced the government’s policy of putting domestic supply ahead of exports in national coal management.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak