95% of 2026 Coal RKAB Approved, Production Seen at Around 720 Million Tons
Tue 29 Sep 2026, 09:21 AM
Share
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) said that nearly all coal companies have received approval for revisions to their 2026 Work Plan and Budget (RKAB).
Director General of Minerals and Coal (Minerba) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Tri Winarno, said that his office had approved 95% of mining companies' Work Plans and Budgets (RKAB).
"95% of the RKABs have been issued, it's done," Tri said when met at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta on Tuesday (29/9/2026).
Asked about the estimated overall coal production forecast for 2026, Tri did not provide details. He said the figure was around 720 million tons.
"Yes, somewhere in between [720 million tons]," Tri said.
Previously, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), through the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal (Minerba), tightened requirements for licensing completeness and obligations for every business entity before mining activities can be carried out. The move was aimed at strengthening the mineral and coal sector.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources ensured that all licensing and mining activity oversight processes are carried out through standardized, measurable and digitized systems. Director General of Minerals and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Tri Winarno, stressed that mining activities cannot be conducted merely by holding a Mining Business License (IUP).
He explained that companies are also required to prepare clear activity plans and meet technical, environmental and safety requirements, as well as state revenue obligations, before receiving approval to commence operations.
"Every mining activity must have a legal basis, clear planning, and comply with all applicable provisions. Therefore, the government conducts a comprehensive evaluation of various requirements that form part of mining governance," Tri said in a statement, as quoted on Saturday (13/6/2026).
In accordance with Article 111 of Law No. 3 of 2020 on Mineral and Coal Mining, the RKAB is a mandatory document for holders of Mining Business Licenses (IUP) and Special Mining Business Licenses (IUPK), containing plans for mining business activities, covering business, technical, financial and environmental aspects.
The RKAB document serves as a reference for companies in carrying out mining activities at the exploration, production operations, processing and/or refining, and post-mining stages. Therefore, every RKAB submission must undergo an evaluation process before receiving government approval. The entire submission, evaluation and approval process is conducted online and integrated through the MinerbaOne information system.
As part of the evaluation process, the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal examines various aspects, including the completeness of administrative documents and licensing legality, the conformity of mining plans with Good Mining Practice principles, compliance with environmental obligations including reclamation guarantees, mining safety aspects, and the company's ability to fulfill state revenue obligations.
"We continue to make corrections and evaluate submitted documents to ensure that mining activities proceed according to plan and comply with good mining governance principles. Each approval is granted only after all required aspects have been deemed compliant," Tri explained.
The regulation of RKABs was strengthened through Government Regulation No. 39 of 2025 and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No. 17 of 2025. All RKAB submissions are also made electronically through the integrated e-RKAB information system as part of the digital transformation of mineral and coal governance.
Under this policy, the RKAB matrix has been simplified into three matrices for the exploration stage and ten matrices for the production operations stage. The simplification was carried out without reducing oversight of mining safety, compliance with non-tax state revenue (PNBP) obligations, the use of mining services, community development and empowerment (PPM), and reclamation obligations.
"Other matrices that are no longer used have been moved into the realization reporting matrix, which must be submitted periodically," Tri added.
For business entities whose RKAB documents still require improvements, the government provides an opportunity to make revisions in accordance with the applicable mechanism.
"If there are still things that need to be improved, we provide room for them to be completed. We also continue to provide assistance through coaching clinics so that companies understand the aspects that need to be adjusted and their documents can meet the requirements," Tri said.
Hundreds of assistance sessions have been conducted. Based on the evaluations, several aspects that still require improvement include exploration and reserve resource data, mining and overburden stockpiling plans, processing and refining aspects, marketing plans, and the completeness of the company's legal documentation.
Advertisement
