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.

Some major coal miners have finally released financial reports for the first half ended June 30, 2025. No surprises. Revenues dropped on falling average price of thermal coal, while net profit declined significantly (some by 80%). Payments to the State, in the form of corporate income tax and non-tax (royalties and profit sharing), dropped accordingly.

China’s largest offshore oil and gas producer, CNOOC Ltd has entered into two production sharing contracts (PSCs) for the Gaea and Gaea II exploration blocks, marking a significant step following the Indonesian government’s confirmation of winning bidders in April 2025. 

Indonesia’s export of natural gas declined 14.4% to US$3.7 billion in the first half of 2025, contributing to US$8.84 billion of deficit in oil and gas. Pathetic delay of major gas projects like Masela, Indonesia Deepwater Development, and Natuna East amidst growing domestic demand for cleaner energy led to growing deficit in the past two decades.

Looks like that nickel price is no longer affected by movements in the electric vehicle (EV) market. While global EV sales expanded 27% year-on-year in the first seven months, nickel declined 10% to US$14,955 per ton. LFP batteries continue to dominate the Chinese...

Adjustment in royalty managed to offset downfall of thermal coal price in the first seven months of 2025. Pressures, however, intensify in the second half due to lower volume and further correction of prices.