Indonesia's Three-Month Coal Output Exceeds Expectation despite Covid-19 Outbreak

The Indonesian Government's ministry of energy and mineral resources stated that the ongoing corona virus outbreak has yet to affect the country's coal mining sector as Q4 production as of 30 March reached 134.87 million tons (MnT), or 24.52 percent of full-year target of 550 MnT.

Director of Coal Management and Development at the ministry, Sujatmiko said on Tuesday that coal production activity remains operational normally. But he added that mining operations have followed the precautionary measures set by the ministry's Directorate General of Coal and Mineral in helping to prevent the spread of the corona virus.

"To date, there has been no report from coal miners (both PKP2B and IUP coal miners) that Covid-19 outbreak has affected coal production activity", he said.

In a recent letter of the Director General of Mineral and Coal signed on March 23, several steps that were mentioned must be implemented which include increasing awareness and preparedness by evaluating and controlling Covid-19 risk for each employee. Then the restrictions on gathering activities and the application of social distances and the application of safe physical distances on employee transport vehicles are also carried out.

The next step is to civilize and provide the facilities needed for a clean and healthy lifestyle for every employee. In addition, sterilization and cleaning of the work environment is also carried out periodically, as well as implementing an early detection system. Then there are the provisions of health care facilities, quarantine rooms, and isolation for the care of employees who are exposed or under monitoring. The final step is to arrange and run Covid-19 emergency management that is adjusted to company policies and conditions and to carry out rapid tests if necessary.

Executive Director of the Indonesia Coal Mining Association (ICMA) Hendra Sinadia concurred by saying that the association has yet to receive any report of coal mine closure in relation to Covid-19 outbreak.

Of the country's 2020 coal production target of 550 MnT, about 286 million tons are expected to come from PKP2B miners, another 210 MnT from coal miners holding IUP licenses issued by local governments, 24 MnT from state-owned IUP coal miners, and 30 MnT from foreign IUP coal miners.