Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has approved approximately 150 million tons of nickel ore production under the 2026 Work Plan and Budget (RKAB). Tri Winarno, Director General of Minerals and Coal, stated that the approval process for coal and nickel RKAB is ongoing and expected to be fully completed soon.
Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed that policies regarding coal production in the 2026 RKAB remain unchanged. However, in light of the recent sustained rise in commodity prices, the government will leave room for production adjustments through a cautiously easing regulatory approach.
Bahlil emphasized that no substantive policy changes have been made yet, but the government will closely monitor market dynamics and gradually ease production restrictions while ensuring supply-demand balance and keeping prices within reasonable ranges. This principle will apply to both coal and nickel. He also noted that the government will not allow overcapacity to pressure market prices again.
Written by Cora Ji, jiruyan@mysteel.com
