BALINEWSID.COM, JAKARTA – The National Coordinator of Relawan Listrik Untuk Negeri (Re-LUN), Teuku Yudhistira, has called on Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into alleged irregularities in coal supplies for state-owned electricity company PLN, which have been cited as the cause of rolling blackouts across Java and Kalimantan.

Yudhistira welcomed Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia’s decision to involve BIN and the AGO in investigating the issue, saying it demonstrated the government’s seriousness in uncovering the facts behind the power disruptions.

Speaking to reporters in Jakarta on Friday (June 26), Yudhistira questioned PLN’s explanation that several coal-fired power plants (PLTUs) in Java required 5,000-calorie medium-rank coal (MRC).

“Many of the coal-fired power plants in Java were built under the 10,000 MW program and were specifically designed to use low-rank coal (LRC). This technical information should be carefully examined by investigators because the data presented by PLN to the government and the public lacks clarity,” he said.

Yudhistira also argued that coal deliveries to PLN have been hindered by a complicated payment mechanism after transactions were shifted to one of PLN’s sub-holding companies.

According to him, the lengthy payment process has discouraged some coal mining companies from supplying fuel to PLN’s power plants.

He further urged investigators to carefully examine the management of PLN and not rely solely on the company’s official narrative regarding the coal shortage.

Yudhistira criticized PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo for what he described as a pattern of shifting blame whenever major electricity disruptions occur. He cited the previous Sumatra blackout, during which PLN attributed the incident to natural factors, while the current rolling blackouts have been blamed on coal shortages.

He argued that such disruptions should have been anticipated through adequate reserve margins and a more reliable electricity system.

Yudhistira also claimed that, over the past five years, PLN had failed to strengthen critical aspects of the national power system while instead prioritizing projects that he described as unproductive. He called for a comprehensive evaluation of PLN’s board of directors, including President Director Darmawan Prasodjo.

Previously, Darmawan stated that a number of coal-fired power plants in western and eastern Java had experienced operational constraints due to declining coal inventories.

The affected plants reportedly include PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu, Lontar, Labuan, Suralaya Units 1–8, Java 7, Java 9 and 10, Indramayu, Paiton Units 1 and 2, Paiton 9, Rembang, Pacitan, and Tanjung Awar-awar.

PLN said the facilities required 5,000-calorie medium-rank coal to maintain operations. However, Re-LUN disputed the claim, arguing that most of the plants were originally designed to operate using low-rank coal, making the company’s explanation inconsistent with the technical specifications of the facilities.

As of the time of publication, PLN had not issued a new response to the latest statements made by Re-LUN regarding the allegations.