Indonesia's PLN load‑shedding disrupts industry across Java

State‑owned PT PLN has imposed rotating electricity outages across Java, affecting industrial zones in Karawang, Cikarang, Cimahi and other areas. Business groups such as HIPMI Karawang and the Apindo chapter in Cimahi complained that outages lasting from one to eight hours during peak production hours halt machinery, delay production targets and cause losses for sectors including steel, aluminum and manufacturing.

Industry representatives said the interruptions reduce steel output by hundreds of tonnes per shift, with the Indonesian Iron and Steel Industry Association estimating losses of up to 1,200 tonnes in some plants. The outages were triggered by technical problems at two large independent‑power‑producer (IPP) steam‑power plants and by a shortfall in medium‑rank coal deliveries to those plants.

Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia rejected claims of a national coal shortage, noting that the Ministry of Energy has assigned 180–190 million tons of coal to suppliers, exceeding PLN’s annual requirement of about 154 million tons. PLN CEO Darmawan Prasodjo apologized to consumers, said the company is accelerating repairs of the two troubled plants and speeding up contracts and logistics to secure medium‑rank coal supplies.

The utility affirmed that these measures aim to restore system reliability, minimise further load‑shedding and support the continuity of industrial production in Java.