Indonesia








Energy Markets

Fossil Fuels

Power Markets

Citicore CEO expects nine-fold growth in solar power by 2026.

Oliver Tan, the Chief Executive Officer of Citicore Renewable Energy Corp in the Philippines, said in an interview with The Philippine Star on Wednesday that he expects to see a nearly ninefold increase in solar installed capacity by 2026. This will amount to approximately 2,56 gigawatts. Tan, one of the Philippines’ largest solar power producers, behind ACEN Corp., said that Citicore would add 1 GW by the end this year and another 1.17 GW by 2026. The company has 0.29 GW installed solar capacity. This is the result of a 20% stake purchased by the renewable energy division of Indonesian...

Fossil Fuels

China's coal imports in May fell 18% due to cheap domestic coal and renewable energy

China, the largest coal importer in the world, reduced its imports by 18% on an annual basis, according to customs data released Friday. Low-cost domestic coal eroded overseas purchases, while renewables slowed down coal-fired electricity generation. According to the General Administration of Customs, imports were 36.04 millions metric tons for the month, down from 43.82million tons in May 2024. This was the third consecutive month that China's imports of coal fell year-over-year. They had increased previously every month from November 2022. January and February were excluded because they are affected by Lunar New Year holidays. The data shows that coal...

Natural Gas Utilities

Indonesian gas firms sign gas swap deal to meet domestic demand

Gas producers from western Indonesia signed a swap agreement with Singaporean buyers Sembcorp Gas and Gas Supply Pte and state-owned distributor Perusahaan Gas Negara to boost domestic gas supplies, according to PT Pertamina. Pertamina stated in a press release that the gas swap scheme is designed to meet demand for natural gas in Indonesia, especially in the power and industrial sectors. MedcoEnergi, an Indonesian gas producer whose units are part of the West Natuna Supply Group (WNSG) and Corridor Block (also parties to the agreement), will replace the flows from the Corridor Block to Singapore with those coming from WNSG....

Fossil Fuels

Mubadala Energy is ready to sell South Andaman Gas to Indonesia at the right price

A senior executive at Mubadala Energy said that the company would be happy to provide all of the natural gas produced in its South Andaman Block for Indonesian domestic consumption, and do so at the best possible price. Indonesia wants producers of gas to increase their supplies to domestic consumers as the demand is increasing. The producers have been focusing on exports of LNG and asked the government to revise price caps for domestic gas. They argue that it is not a good business decision when spot LNG prices are so high. Abdulla Bu Ali (President Director of Mubadala Energy...

Oil & Gas Refining

In the Pertamina case, Indonesia contacts trading firms in Singapore

It was announced on Monday that the Indonesian Attorney General's Office had contacted a number trading firms in Singapore about a corruption probe involving Pertamina. In the first half of this year, a number of Pertamina subsidiaries executives were arrested for alleged corruption in relation to oil imports from 2018 through 2023. This allegedly caused state losses of $12 billion. Pertamina apologized publicly and promised to improve the transparency after the arrests. Harli Siregar, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's Office said that investigators want to speak with some Singapore trading firms about the case. Siregar stated that earlier attempts...

Fossil Fuels

Indonesia increases CPO export levy by 10% as of May 17,

A regulation signed Wednesday shows that Indonesia will increase its crude palm oil export levy from 7.5% to 10% starting May 17, in order to fund the country's increased mandate for biodiesel blends. Export levies on refined products will range from 4.75% to 9.5% of CPO reference prices, an increase of between 3% and 6 % of current rates. The levies collected are used to finance palm oil programs such as the biodiesel program and a smallholder replanting subvention. Indonesia increased its palm oil-based Biodiesel mix from 35% to 40% this past year. It is now studying moving to 50%...

Coal

Chairman of India's NMDC says that the company is exploring coal assets in Indonesia and Australia.

Amitava Mukherjee, chairman of the Indian miner NMDC, said that it is looking for coking coal assets in Indonesia and Australia. Coking coal is a key ingredient used to make iron ore and styrene. India, which is the second largest producer of crude iron and steel in the world, imports 85% of coking coal. More than half of Australia's coking-coal imports are accounted for by the country. Mukherjee stated that the company views this as an opportunity for business. The negotiations (for explorations) are at different stages. Due to confidentiality, he did not reveal the specifics of these discussions. NMDC,...

Oil & Gas Exploration

CERAWEEK-Freeport-McMoRan hopes Trump declares copper a critical mineral

Freeport-McMoRan CEO Kathleen Quirk expressed her hope that U.S. president Donald Trump will declare copper to be a critical metal. This would allow tax credits for the American production of red metal, and help offset its global competitors, she said. Trump said to the U.S. Congress that he would take "historic action" to expand production of vital minerals, but he has not yet provided details. Copper is widely used in the global economy for power generation, electronic devices and construction. The U.S. Geological Survey identifies lithium, nickel and other minerals as essential. Quirk said that adding copper to Freeport's portfolio...

Fossil Fuels

Indonesia plans to use the sovereign wealth fund to boost coal-gasification projects

Energy Minister Danantara Indonesia said that Indonesia is looking to increase coal gasification through its newly established sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia. Indonesia, which is the world's largest thermal coal producer has been trying to process low-ranking coal into dimethyl ether in order to reduce LPG imports. However, previous projects have failed due to investors pulling out. Energy Minister Bahlil stated late Tuesday that the government will provide the capital investment, and the local investors will cover the rest. "Danantara will be one of them." Bahlil stated that four coal gasification project will be implemented in South Sumatra, East Kalimantan...

Oil & Gas

The core profit of Vallourec drops due to lower tube prices in North America

France's Vallourec announced a 24% decline in its core profit for the fourth quarter on Thursday. It cited lower average selling prices for its steel tubes, its primary market, in North America. Vallourec makes tubings for oil and gas markets, low-carbon energies and industrial markets. Its operating earnings before interest taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), fell to 214 millions euros ($224) in the fourth quarter of 2024. This was due to a 27% decline in North American tubes. In the fourth quarter, around 92% (globally) of Vallourec’s total revenues came from the tubes business. In a conference call with journalists,...

Fossil Fuels

From March 1, Indonesia will use its benchmark coal prices for transactions

A senior official from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry announced on Wednesday that Indonesia will begin using the benchmark coal price set by the government as the price floor for all transactions next month. Indonesia uses the HBA (government benchmark price) to calculate coal mining royalty fees. Energy Minister Bahlil lahadalia announced earlier this month that the government will require coal companies to utilize the HBA for global transactions. The government is seeking to gain more control over coal prices in the country. In a message sent via text, ministry official Tri Winarno stated that the policy would be...

Fossil Fuels

Anglo American sells nickel business up to $500 Million

Anglo American announced on Tuesday that it would sell its nickel mining business to an MMG Ltd unit listed in Hong Kong for up to $500m. A broader restructuring is underway to focus its operations on iron ore and copper. Nickel business in Brazil includes two ferronickel projects and two greenfields. Anglo will receive $350 million upon completion, up $100 million as a price-linked gainout, and an additional $50 million for potential project development, according to a company statement. Together, the assets produce around 38,000 metric tonnes of nickel each year. In January, the metal's price fell to a record...

Environment

Renewable Energy

Singapore's renewables use hits record highs as solar output and imports rise

An analysis of the most recent market data revealed that Singapore increased the share of renewables to a new record in May. The country accelerated its local solar power production and imported more renewable energy. Data from the National Electricity Market of Singapore revealed that domestic solar generation rose in May at its fastest rate since March 2024, and renewable imports increased for a third consecutive month, reaching their highest level in over two years. This boosted the share of renewables to 2,58% in the power mix of the city-state. The cross-border trade of power is seen as a key...

Climate Change

Indonesian weather agency revised outlook for shorter dry season by 2025

Most areas in Indonesia will see a shorter-than-expected dry season this year due to higher-than-normal precipitation thus far, the country's weather agency said, which is expected to boost the rice crop in Southeast Asia's largest economy. The Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency had predicted that the dry season would be normal this year. It began in April for most areas and reached its peak from June to August. In a weekend statement, Dwikorita Karanawati, the head of the agency, said: "Our prediction shows there was an anomaly with higher-than-normal rainfall... This becomes the basis for predicting the delayed dry season...

Climate Change

Indonesia invites foreign investors to invest in seawall worth $80 billion that will protect the coasts against flooding

The President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, announced on Thursday that foreign investors were invited to invest in Indonesia's plan for a seawall of hundreds of kilometers to prevent flooding along the north coast Java island. The project builds on a plan from 2014 by the government of Jakarta to protect the city against rising sea levels and subsidence which have caused frequent floods along the north Java coastline. Prabowo announced that he will form an agency for the project to build a giant seawall stretching from Banten province to East Java, which could take up to 20 years to finish....

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

After protests, Indonesia cancels mining permits for nickel ore in Raja Ampat

Indonesia, a major nickel ore producer, has revoked the permits of four mining companies in Raja Ampat, its easternmost region, Papua. This follows a public uproar over their environmental impact. Last week, protests against mining in Raja Ampat - a beautiful UNESCO Global Geopark famed for its marine biodiversity - dominated Indonesian social networks. Users shared a graphic showing the blue waters of the area with the hashtag #SaveRajaAmpat. Bahlil lahadalia, Indonesia’s energy minister, stated that President Prabowo decided to revoke permits for the four nickel-producing companies in the region starting Tuesday to protect the environment. He said that we...

Mineral Resources

Indonesia anticipates concluding free trade negotiations with EU by the end of June

Indonesia announced on Saturday that the free trade talks with the European Union which have been ongoing for nine years are expected to be completed by the end June. Airlangga hartarto, chief economic minister of Southeast Asia's largest economy, met EU Commissioner for Trade Maros Séfcovic on Friday in Brussels. Airlangga Hartarto stated in a press release that "Indonesia has agreed to resolve outstanding issues, and we are prepared to announce the conclusion of substantial negotiation by the end June 2025." He didn't disclose any details about the agreements that may have been made. Denis Chaibi said, "Negotiations continue and...

Mineral Resources

Goldman Sachs raises its second-half 2025 aluminum forecast to $2.280/t

Goldman Sachs raised its forecast of aluminium prices for the second half 2025 from $140 per metric tonne to $2,280, citing smaller than expected surpluses on the market. However, they expect prices to fall in early 2026. The bank stated that the impact of trade wars on global activity was less than expected. This led it to increase its global aluminium growth forecast for 2025 from 1.1% to 1.8%. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, announced on Friday that he would increase import tariffs from 25% to 50%. Around half of the aluminium used for packaging, construction and transport in the...

Mineral Resources

The death toll from the Indonesia quarry collapse is now 17.

The search and rescue agency Basarnas announced that Indonesian authorities would continue their search on Sunday for the eight people who are trapped in the rock collapse of a West Java quarry, where 17 have died, with six others injured. In a late-night statement, the agency stated that the toll reported by victims' families is only provisional. West Java Governor Dedi Mullyadi wrote on Instagram that the site of the Friday's collapse is dangerous, and "doesn't meet safety standards for employees". In a press release, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry stated that it would investigate the cause and assess...

Mineral Resources

France's Macron and Indonesia's Prabowo discuss defense ties

The French president Emmanuel Macron and his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subito will meet in Jakarta on Tuesday, with a focus on strengthening defence ties between Paris and its largest arms client in Southeast Asia. Indonesia is the second stop on Macron's regional tour after Vietnam where both countries signed deals valued at over $10 billion. He will fly to Singapore Thursday. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin welcomed Macron to Indonesia on Tuesday evening. He said that the two countries will sign a letter of intent on defence and work together on "strategic weapons hardware". He cited fighter jets, submarines, and other military hardware....

Mineral Resources

France's Macron and Indonesia's Prabowo discuss strategic partnerships

On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron and his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subito will meet in Jakarta to discuss defence ties. This is Paris' largest arms client in Southeast Asia. Indonesia is the second stop on Macron's regional tour after Vietnam where both countries signed deals valued at over $10 billion. He will fly to Singapore Thursday. Indonesia's Foreign Ministry said that the two countries would discuss "existing partnerships" without giving any specific details. In 2022 the two countries will sign an $8.1 billion deal for defence that includes an order of 42 Rafale jet fighters from France's Dassault. They also...

Mineral Resources

Indonesia searches for 19 missing people following a landslide in a gold mine in Papua

Officials said that 19 Indonesians were missing after heavy rainfall caused a landslide in a gold mining area of Papua. Abdul Muhari said that torrential rains caused a landslide in a small mine operated by local residents on the Arfak Mountains in West Papua Province late Friday night. He added that the landslide killed one person, injured four others and still left 19 people missing. Officials said that at least 40 rescuers, including police and military personnel, had been dispatched to search for missing persons. In Indonesia, accidents caused by illegal and small-scale mining have often occurred in areas where...

Mineral Resources

Indonesian military: 18 separatists were killed in Papua, according to the country's military

An official confirmed that Indonesian military killed 18 Papuan Separatists in an operation conducted in the easternmost region Papua on Thursday. Three civilians were also killed. In a statement, Kristomei Santuri, the military spokesperson, said that during Wednesday's raid, the military seized dozens munitions including an assault weapon, bows andarrows, and an unspecified home-made weapon. The Indonesian military suffered no casualties. Sebby Samboom, a spokesperson for the Papua Separatists, said that three of its members were dead. A prominent church group in Papua, citing reports from local churches, said that three civilians died during the shootout. Nearly 1,000 people were...

Mineral Resources

Early 2030s will see the global cobalt market swing from surplus to deficit.

The Cobalt Institute published a study on Wednesday that showed demand for cobalt would rise faster than the supply. This will allow the market to decrease the surplus of 2024 in the coming years, and then swing to a deficiency in the early 30s. The future of cobalt in the short-term depends on the decision that the Democratic Republic of Congo, the world's largest producer of the mineral, which is used to manufacture the lithium-ion battery packs that power electric cars, makes after the four-month ban on exports, which was imposed late February. The ban was imposed by the central...

Mineral Resources

Nickel assets in a challenging scenario: Alternatives to value checking

The CEO of Brazilian nickel miner Vale said that the company is looking at alternatives to sell its nickel assets, including partnerships and putting them in care and maintenance. This is because the market has a difficult short-term outlook, he added. The chief executive of the company, Gustavo Pimenta, told reporters in Rio de Janeiro that there is a surplus on the market due to Indonesian production. "Nickel is attractive on a medium- and long-term basis," said Pimenta, citing the demand for electric car production. The executive said, "The question now is how to stay profitable in the short-term." Vale's...

Mineral Resources

Mining group Eramet keeps 2025 output targets despite Q1 setbacks

Eramet, a French mining company, maintained its full-year production targets on Thursday despite lower manganese and Nickel volumes which contributed to flat sales in the first quarter. The company reported quarterly sales adjusted to 742 million euros (842 million dollars) and said that sales volumes at its manganese mining in Gabon were down 15% on an annual basis due to a strike by workers and logistical issues at Owendo Port. Eramet, the Indonesian nickel ore miner, attributed this decline to destocking of local processing plants. The Chairwoman and CEO Christel Bories also attributed the "more difficult" than expected first quarter...

Mineral Resources

Indonesia Nickel group demands a reevaluation of the new mineral royalty rules

Secretary general Meidy Kathrin, of the Indonesia Nickel Miners Association, said that on Wednesday they called on the government to reevaluate a recent regulation imposing higher royalty rates on nickel ore. Meidy says that the new royalties will burden miners already facing rising costs. She said that she understood that the policy had been officially enacted but hoped that the government would still allow for dialogue. Meidy stated that under the new rules Indonesia will impose a royalty rate of 14% to 19.0% on nickel ore. This is an increase from the existing single tariff of 10.0%. Semi-refined nickel pig...