S. Sumatra signals limited relief on coal road ban for compliant miners
Saturday, January 17 2026 - 09:40 AM WIB
The South Sumatra provincial government said it may grant temporary discretion for coal mining companies to use public roads for coal transport if they demonstrate concrete progress in building dedicated haul roads, as a ban on public-road coal trucking that began on January 1, 2026, continues to affect miners without their own infrastructure.
Apriyadi, Assistant I for Government and Public Welfare at the South Sumatra administration, said Friday that the public-road ban on coal haulage is based on a central government directive and has been enforced since the start of 2026 to address safety and community concerns. The ban could potentially disrupt coal production for an estimated 34 mining companies that have not yet constructed dedicated coal haul roads.
Under the enforcement, coal trucks are prohibited from using general public roads. Apriyadi said the provincial government is reviewing whether to offer temporary discretion to allow limited use of public roads while dedicated haul routes are being built, but only for companies that can provide verifiable commitments and realistic schedules for road construction.
“If they say they need time, there must be evidence—when construction starts, how it progresses, and when it will be completed. Not just promises as in the past,” Apriyadi said.
Read also: South Sumatra misses 2025 coal output target; public road ban takes effect
He said any discretion would require companies to demonstrate they are serious about completing dedicated haul routes, which he described as technically straightforward—mainly involving land clearing, embankment, and compaction.
Apriyadi also emphasized that concerns over energy supply cannot override the public’s right to safe and unobstructed use of public roads. He said companies should have prepared dedicated haulage infrastructure well before the governor’s instruction restricting coal truck access to general roads.
The provincial government has pushed the rule not only to enforce compliance with national policy but also to reduce dust, noise, and traffic disruption in residential areas. Apriyadi said authorities want to ensure that dedicated coal roads move beyond planning and are actually built, reducing reliance on public roads and addressing community complaints.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak