BALINEWSID.COM, JAKARTA — The National Coordinator of Relawan Listrik Untuk Negeri (Re-LUN), Teuku Yudhistira, has accused PT PLN (Persero) President Director Darmawan Prasodjo of misleading the public over the coal supply issue that has been blamed for rolling blackouts across Java.

The criticism came shortly after Darmawan was reappointed as PLN President Director through a General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS) held at the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry office on Thursday night (June 18, 2026).

In a video released by PLN on Saturday (June 20, 2026), Darmawan said the company had coordinated with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to secure medium-rank coal supplies to restore electricity generation operations.

Darmawan apologized to the public over the rotating power outages and said PLN was accelerating coal supply contracts with suppliers assigned by the government.

“We understand the difficulties faced by the public due to this situation. PLN is accelerating the contract signing process with coal suppliers, especially for medium-rank coal that has received government assignments,” Darmawan said.

He added that medium-rank coal distribution had started flowing to several coal-fired power plants (PLTUs) across Java, including PLN-owned plants and Independent Power Producer (IPP) facilities.

Among the plants mentioned were PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu, Lontar, Labuan, Suralaya Units 1-8, Jawa 7, Jawa 9-10, and Indramayu in western Java, as well as Paiton Units 1 and 2, Paiton 9, Rembang, Pacitan, and Tanjung Awar-Awar in eastern Java.

Darmawan also said two major private-operated power plants had experienced technical problems and were temporarily disconnected from the Java electricity system. PLN, he said, had deployed teams together with its partners to accelerate repairs.

However, Yudhistira strongly rejected Darmawan’s explanation, calling it a “public deception” and questioning the claim that medium-rank coal shortages were the main cause of the crisis.

“Darmawan’s statement is misleading. He mentioned medium-rank coal shortages, but most of the power plants he listed can operate using low-rank coal because they are part of the 10,000 MW electricity project designed for low-rank coal,” Yudhistira said in Jakarta on Monday (June 22, 2026).

According to Yudhistira, the electricity crisis at PLN is far more complex and should not be blamed solely on coal supply issues. He argued that blackouts would not have occurred if PLN had maintained an adequate electricity reserve margin according to national power system standards.

He also criticized Darmawan for allegedly creating a narrative that shifted responsibility toward the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of ESDM.

“Instead of providing a comprehensive solution, PLN is creating the impression that the problem comes from the coal regulator. This situation is unacceptable,” he said.

Yudhistira further questioned the decision to reappoint Darmawan despite repeated electricity disruptions during his leadership period, including major blackouts in Sumatra and Java that disrupted public services and economic activities.

He claimed that PLN’s leadership under Darmawan had failed to resolve recurring electricity reliability problems and called on the government to take decisive action.

“The government must evaluate PLN’s leadership and place people who truly understand electricity management in strategic positions,” he said.

Yudhistira also criticized what he described as a decline in meritocracy within PLN, alleging that professional recruitment policies had resulted in the appointment of close associates to strategic positions while limiting career opportunities for internal employees.

Meanwhile, Re-LUN said its investigation team had received reports that rolling blackouts had expanded beyond Java and Sumatra to parts of Kalimantan, including West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan.

“The situation is becoming a serious national electricity crisis. The government must immediately take firm action and find the right solution,” Yudhistira said.

He also urged law enforcement agencies, including the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the National Police, and the Attorney General’s Office, to investigate possible violations related to the ongoing electricity crisis.

“There must be a thorough investigation into all aspects of this problem, including possible criminal elements. The government cannot ignore the public concerns caused by these widespread power disruptions,” he concluded.