Basten Gokkon – Indonesia's marine ministry has approved one of Java's largest coal plants to use vast amounts of seawater for cooling, prompting concerns from marine experts over the impact of heated discharge on coastal ecosystems and fisheries.
The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries on July 22 issued a permit for the utilization of seawater for non-energy purposes (ALSE) to PT Bhimasena Power Indonesia (BPI), the operator of the Batang coal-fired power plant in Central Java. The permit makes the Batang facility the first power plant in Java and the second in Indonesia to be legally authorized to manage seawater for industrial activities, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said the Batang plant utilized approximately 3 billion cubic meters (106 billion cubic feet) of seawater annually, primarily for cooling purposes, and such large-scale seawater use requires accountable management in accordance with government regulations. The ALSE permit regulates the use of seawater for non-energy industrial purposes, such as cooling, potable water production or other uses, according to the ministry.
"This effort also supports transparency and accountability in sustainable marine industries," Frista Yorhanita, the ministry's director of marine resources, said in the statement.
The Batang thermal coal plant began full operations in 2022 with a 2,000-megawatt capacity. As one of Java's main power sources, it was built to boost Indonesia's energy supply and support local economic growth. However, instead of improving local welfare, the plant's development has caused serious harm, from displacing fishing communities and degrading the environment to cutting off access to vital natural resources.
"The use of seawater in power plant operations, especially at the scale of the Batang plant, has significant impacts on the aquatic environment and water quality essential for marine life," Arifsyah Nasution, the ocean campaigner at Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said in a statement sent to Mongabay.
Arifsyah said the primary impact of a power plant's presence in coastal areas and its use of seawater for cooling operations was marine pollution, including rising water temperatures caused by the discharge of used seawater. He added that the impact would persist since power plants operated continuously as long as the plant remained in operation.
A 2019 study by a group of Indonesian scientists found total suspended solids, tiny bits of stuff floating in the water, were higher than before a big thermal power plant had started in 2014 in Palabuhan Ratu Bay, at the southern part of Java. The plant also uses seawater to cool down its machines, and when it sends warm water back into the ocean, the researchers have found that it changes how the sea flows and affects the water quality, according to their monitoring between 2014 and 2017.
The scientists also checked how warm the water was and how much chlorine, a chemical used to kill germs, was in it. They found that the chlorine levels were still safe but called for further monitoring to check if any dangerous chlorine leftovers were affecting sea animals.
Central Java's Batang district has historically thrived on its marine resources, sustained by coral reefs and mangrove forests that provide habitat for myriad coastal species. Fishing boats operate daily as fisheries are not only central to the local economy but also to the community's identity and cultural traditions, including a monthly market festival.
The People's Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA) recorded 1,167 traditional fishers around the Batang power plant area who rely on the sea for their livelihoods, spreading across the villages of Ujungnegoro, Depok, Kenconorejo, Ponowareng, and Karanggeneng. The figure only accounts for those living within 1-2 kilometers (0.6-1.2 miles) of the Batang plant site and does not yet include the number of women fishers who also depend on marine resources in the area, the group noted.
"So, an environmental impact assessment is necessary to ensure that the seawater intake and discharge of heated water from the power plant's operations do not pollute or damage the surrounding marine ecosystem and do not harm the livelihoods of traditional fishers in the area," Susan Herawati, KIARA's secretary-general, said in a statement sent to Mongabay.
KIARA cited findings from a 2022 study by Gadjah Mada University's Center for Social Studies and Poverty Alleviation (PSPK) highlighting the serious toll the Batang coal-fired power plant had taken on traditional fishers, particularly those in Roban Barat.
Since the plant began operations, shrimp fishers in the area have reported a sharp decline in their daily catch and income by up to 50%, according to the PSPK study. It linked the disruption to sedimentation and debris from coal dredging, which often clogged fishing nets as well as restricted access to fishing zones near the plant.
The development of the Batang plant has deeply divided the community, as some accepted compensation offered by the company, BPI, often under pressure, while others, who continued to resist, received nothing. In a press statement issued in December 2016, BPI said it had compensated 700 farmers with 32 hectares (79 acres) of replacement farmland, artificial fish habitats, libraries and vocational training programs. Meanwhile, residents who opposed the Batang power plant development faced intimidation from local security forces, including police and military personnel. Several community members were arrested, with one local leader reportedly jailed for eight months.
"These are the issues that should be closely monitored and evaluated by the ministry to ensure it stands in support of traditional fishers whose rights have been increasingly eroded by industrial operations, particularly coal-fired power plants along coastal areas and small islands," Susan said.
"This disconnect highlights the growing gap between the urgent needs of coastal communities and the ministry's current revenue-driven agenda," Susan added, noting that issuing the ALSE permit generates non-state tax revenue.
Greenpeace also said the development and operation of the Batang coal-fired power plant was a failure of energy planning and a setback to Indonesia's commitment to energy transition. The plant, they argue, stands as a clear example of government policy prioritizing coal industry interests over the protection of community living spaces and the sustainability of coastal and marine ecosystems.
The Batang power plant was a $4 billion project developed by PT BPI, a joint venture between Japan's J-Power and Itochu Corporation, and Indonesia's Adaro Power, a subsidiary of coal giant Adaro Energy. Funded largely by Japan's state-owned JBIC and other Asian banks, the plant is central to Adaro's long-term strategy, which was closely tied to the country's 35,000 MW power expansion plan that's still heavily reliant on coal.
Today, Indonesia operates 49.7 gigawatts of coal power plants, with 38.5 GW grid-connected thermal power and the remainder being captive coal. According to energy think tank Ember, the former has doubled over the past 10 years, leading to significant electricity oversupply and causing economic hardship for the state electricity company, PLN, while impeding clean energy growth.
As the world's top thermal coal exporter and sixth-largest carbon emitter, Indonesia plays a key role in the global fight against climate change. But according to Climate Action Tracker, its draft 2035 climate plan is "critically insufficient," lacking ambition and ignoring rising emissions from off-grid coal power. Experts warn it's a missed chance for Indonesia to align with the Paris Agreement and push forward meaningful climate action.
"Indonesia's heavy dependence on fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas must be urgently addressed through an energy justice approach," Arifsyah said. "Progressive policies that support the effective and efficient development of renewable energy should be fully backed and incentivized by the government to encourage broader adoption by communities and industries."
[Basten Gokkon is a senior staff writer for Indonesia at Mongabay. Find him on X, @bgokkon.]
Citation
Widyarani, Cahyaningsih, S., Wulan, D. R., & Sembiring, T. (2019). Water quality assessment around a coal-fired power plant in southern coast of Java, Indonesia. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 25, 100463. doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2018.100463