Minerba Director General Doubles as PLN Coal Procurement VP, Bahlil: Don't Let the Lights Go Out Over RKAB
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- Menteri ESDM Bahlil Lahadalia menugaskan Dirjen Minerba untuk merangkap sebagai VP Pengadaan Batu Bara guna mengamankan pasokan PLN.
- Langkah ini diambil setelah Bahlil menegaskan bahwa pemadaman listrik di Kalimantan dan Sulawesi bukan disebabkan oleh masalah RKAB batu bara, melainkan faktor hidrologi seperti El Nino.
- Kebijakan ini berpotensi mengubah tata kelola rantai pasok batu bara domestik dan menimbulkan pertanyaan tentang tata kelola serta transparansi pengadaan.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia has appointed the Director General of Mineral and Coal (Dirjen Minerba) to concurrently serve as Vice President (VP) of Coal Procurement. The appointment aims to ensure that coal supply for PT PLN (Persero)'s power plants is no longer hampered by administrative issues, particularly those related to the Work Plan and Budget (RKAB).
During a hearing (RDP) with Commission XII of the House of Representatives on Wednesday (16/9/2026), Bahlil revealed that the Minerba Director General is now directly involved in coal procurement for PLN. "For RKAB needs in the regions, the Minerba Director General now concurrently serves as VP of Coal Procurement. Because the work now, coal for PLN is handled directly by the Director General. Almost every day. So that the lights don't go out again over RKAB," he said.
This step marks a significant shift in the governance of domestic coal supply. Until now, coal procurement for PLN was carried out through long-term contracts and assignments from the Ministry of ESDM, with oversight at the directorate level. Now, the Minerba Director General, who should serve as a regulator, is concurrently acting as the procurement executor, raising the potential for a conflict of interest between the oversight and operational functions.
Bahlil also denied that power outages in several regions such as Kalimantan and Sulawesi were caused by coal RKAB constraints. He explained that electricity supply disruptions in those areas were driven more by weather factors, particularly El Nino, which reduced water flow for Hydroelectric Power Plants (PLTA). "Because there it is indeed a PLTA, El Nino, then the water is low, then the contribution from 400 Megawatts is only 250 active. So there is a shortage there. So, well, this is indeed our mistake too. PLN's anticipation must be carried out together," he stressed.
For market players and investors, this policy raises several implications. First, accelerating coal procurement can reduce the risk of PLN defaulting on suppliers, but on the other hand, the direct involvement of the Minerba Director General in procurement could blur the line between regulator and operator. Second, transparency of the procurement process is a concern, especially if there is no open tender mechanism. Third, dependence on coal for electricity remains high, while the energy transition demands diversification of sources.
Energy observers view this step as a quick response to political pressure and electricity needs, but warn of the need for extra oversight to prevent abuse of authority. "This appointment could be a short-term solution, but in the long term there needs to be a clear separation of functions between oversight and execution," said an energy policy analyst who declined to be named.
Going forward, the effectiveness of this policy will depend on the extent to which the Minerba Director General can carry out two roles at once without sacrificing the principles of good governance. If successful, the national electricity supply can be more stable, but if it fails, the risk of an energy crisis and legal disputes could loom. Will this step become a breakthrough or instead create new problems?
