Nickel started the year well, gaining nearly 10% year-on-year on plan from Indonesia, the world’s largest producer, to cut its production significantly this year. Delay in approval of work and budget plan (RKAB) for some nickel miners might give a short-term support for the commodity.

Prabowo administration was slated to make a decision about construction start of coal-to-dimethyl ether (DME) projects this month. We don’t know whether a decision has been made, but given energy self-sufficiency ambition from President Prabowo, the long aspired project might eventually hit the ground.

Prime Energy Natuna Pte Ltd, member of Prime Group International, has acquired some oil and gas assets in Natuna, Riau Islands from UK-based Harbour Energy Plc for US$215 million. Who’s behind?

Merdeka Copper Gold (MDKA), co-owned by Provident Capital Group, Saratoga, and Garibaldi ‘Boy’ Thohir, booked net loss of US$34.8 million in Jan-Sep 2025. Gold price hike helped the company in reducing the net loss, but Wetar Copper project and nickel business prevented it reporting profit like peers.

Indonesia imported US$4.4 billion worth of coking or metallurgical coal last year due to growing capacity of metal processing industry. Given projects in the pipeline and limited domestic production, the country might import more in the coming years.

A team of Satgas PKH (a task force for forest area enforcement) from National Police claimed of finding indications of serious violations committed by one nickel company in Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, home to main nickel operations in the country.

The government is preparing to reduce electricity subsidies in the State Budget (APBN). Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, recently stated that one of the issues being discussed is the development of renewable energy, particularly solar power. He added that the goal is to reduce subsidies without raising the electricity tariffs.

Newcastle thermal coal rebounded to US$102.9 per ton Thursday (Sep 18), but the commodity remains 26% below the same period last year due to weaker purchase from China and India, two of the major importing countries despite resurgence from Japan and South Korea.

Indonesia’s geothermal power plants’ installed capacity has recently reached 2.74 GW, rose from 2.6 GW in 2024, still way below its potentials, among others due to slow pace of development of new projects and electricity oversupply nationwide.

China Qinfa Group Limited, a company listed on the HK Stock Exchange (HKSE), has aggressively grown its coal mining and trading operations in Indonesia in recent years. The group decided to let go five coal mines in China to focus in developing assets in the archipelago.