Indonesia Takes Preemptive Action, Lowering Coal Power Plant Output in Anticipation of ASEAN Summit

In a bold move aimed at tackling Jakarta's severe pollution crisis, Indonesia has taken significant steps to reduce the output of a major coal-powered plant. This decision comes on the eve of crucial summits involving leaders from the ASEAN, along with representatives from the United States, Japan, China, and South Korea.

Jakarta, a sprawling metropolis housing approximately 30 million residents, has been grappling with alarmingly high pollution levels in recent weeks, sparking a slew of public health concerns. Swiss-based air quality monitor IQAir has reported that Jakarta frequently ranked at the top of global pollution charts in the past month, raising apprehensions that the pollution crisis might overshadow the diplomatic meetings scheduled for the upcoming weeks.

In response to these dire circumstances, Irwan Edi Syahputra Lubis, the General Manager of the Suralaya coal-fired power plant's operator, PLN IP (Indonesia Power), has made a crucial announcement. Since August 29th, the plant's production has been significantly curtailed by a staggering 1,600 megawatts. This substantial reduction is a deliberate effort to ameliorate the air quality in Jakarta. The power facility, situated about 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of central Jakarta on the western edge of Java, will henceforth function at a diminished capacity of 1,800 megawatts.

The duration and permanence of this power cut remain uncertain, contingent upon directives from the Indonesian government. Indonesia has made a resolute commitment to environmental sustainability, pledging to cease the construction of new coal-fired power plants starting in 2023, with the ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. However, in a paradoxical development, the Suralaya coal plant on Java Island continues to undergo expansion, with plans to add 10 new units within the plant's complex.

Although initial attributions for the spike in pollution pointed to weather patterns and vehicle emissions, certain government ministers have recently acknowledged the role of coal-fired power plants and factories in the Jakarta region as contributors to the pollution crisis.

Notably, Indonesia's decision comes on the heels of a contrasting development in Australia, where the largest coal-fired power station in the country was given a potential extension of its operational lifespan until its scheduled shutdown in 2025.

Since the closure of the Liddell coal-powered station in April, the evaluation noted an increase in the average wholesale energy price. Consequently, Energy Minister Penny Sharpe announced that the center-left administration in New South Wales had accepted the recommendation to explore keeping the Eraring Power Station operational and would engage in discussions with Origin Energy, the facility's owner.