The Indonesian government has assured the Philippines of coal supply once their domestic supply requirements are met.
Trade Sec. Ramon Lopez said that the coal supply was assured by Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto during their meeting on Friday.
Lopez said that the Philippine market welcomes Indonesian products, stressing that these investments are crucial in amplifying economic recovery. Hartarto, meanwhile, said that his country welcomes exporters from the Philippines looking to enter the Indonesian market.
Based on data from the Department of Energy (DOE) in 2020, 96.9% of the country’s coal imports come from Indonesia. Following the Southeast Asian neighbor’s coal export ban at the start of the year, the DOE has asked coal-powered generation companies to submit a full inventory report to assess possible obstacles once the coal ban is lifted.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently called on the government to expand the country’s energy sources following the coal ban. Coal accounted for 57.2% of the country’s energy mix in 2020.
Indonesia, the world’s largest thermal coal supplier, imposed the export ban to help address domestic supply concerns and avoid power outages.
