Coal gencos asked to submit full inventory amid Indonesia export ban

The Department of Energy (DOE) has required power generation companies (gencos) with coal plants to submit a full inventory report that would help assess possible obstacles once the coal export ban in Indonesia is lifted. 

“We required full reports (from gencos) [that] we would need to assess if we have full inventory and what are expected to happen on the scheduled deliveries. All of those are linked challenges,” DOE Electric Power Industry Management Bureau Director Mario Marasigan told reporters in a media briefing on Thursday.

The Energy official added that most coal gencos told the DOE that they are compliant with the 30-day minimum inventory requirement, with some others having stocks worth 45-50 days. However, one or two players may be having problems, though he refused to give further details.

Several coal gencos such as Aboitiz Power Corporation and Global Business Power Corporation have said they have enough supply to last Indonesia’s export ban, which runs until the end of the month.

Marasigan also mentioned the need to collaborate with other government agencies for clearances and documentation of gencos for new coal shipments.

“Let’s say that the export ban in Indonesia will ease up, coal deliveries will pile up. Are our ports ready? Do they have the environmental clearance? Before we can address that and engage with other government agencies, we need to know the full picture,” he said.

The Indonesian government, meanwhile, is awaiting clearance from its state utility firm Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) regarding the export ban. In a report by Reuters, the government is waiting for PLN to declare if the country has secured enough coal supply to prevent power outages following low domestic stockpiles. 

Indonesia Energy Minister Arifin Tasrif said that should the government lift the export ban, it will be done partially. He added that the government would allow 14 loaded coal vessels to depart once verified by authorities as a sign of easing the export ban. 

Last week, Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi wrote to Tasrif appealing for the ban’s lifting.

Based on DOE data, 96.9% of The Philippines’ coal imports came from Indonesia in 2020, while coal accounted for 57.2% of the country’s energy mix in the same year.