Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) in a press conference on Tuesday predicts domestic coal production will grow to a number between 637-664 million tons. This comes along with the prediction that the use of the commodity will likely grow to 190 million tons.

"It is being finalized," said the Ministry's director of mineral and coal development program Suryo Herdadi on December 21.

Moreover, he said the ministry is monitoring the work plan of stakeholders and mining firms and said production will depend on the development of production until the end of the year. "And those that have not been included in the parameter," he added.

According to the Ministry, domestic coal production has not reached the annual goal of 625 tons for 2021 as up to December 10, national production only reached 89.6 percent of the target of 560 million tons

Meanwhile, the realization of domestic coal utilization had reached 121.3 million tons, which is 88.2 percent from the initial goal of 137.5 million tons.

He said the reason behind the lack of performance this year was caused by weather, and mainly the La Nina that greatly affected Indonesia's weather in the middle of this year, especially in coal production regions such as Kalimantan where rain intensity on average was very high.

Despite not meeting its initial goal, the profit generated by mining coal has exceeded the government's initial goal as up to December 10 had generated Rp70.05 trillion or 179.14 percent.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1541693/2022-coal-production-will-grow-to-664-million-tons-says-esd