Indonesia’s coal reserves remain substantial and are projected to meet national energy needs for the next 41 years, according to the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
The coal reserves status was highlighted by Muhammad Wafid, Head of the Geological Agency, during the 2023 Activity Results Colloquium on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
“Coal still has the potential to fulfill our national energy needs for the next 41 years,” Wafid said.
He emphasized that coal in Indonesia is utilized not only as an energy source but also as a raw material supporting various industries, including agriculture, healthcare, defense, and security.
Moehamad Awaludin, Chairman of the Prospective and Evaluation Team for Mineral Resources and Reserves (PSDMBP), presented data from 2023 indicating that Indonesia possesses 97.2 billion tons of surface coal resources and 31.7 billion tons of coal reserves.
“However, this data also indicates a decline in both resources and reserves,” Awaludin noted.
He cited that in 2022, Indonesia had 99 billion tons of coal resources and 35 billion tons of reserves, reflecting a decrease of 1.91 percent in resources and 9.53 percent in reserves over the past year.
The decline underscores the need for strategic management and utilization of the country’s coal resources to ensure long-term sustainability and energy security.