This is the Trend of New Indonesian Coal-Fired Power Plant Capacity over the Last 23 Years

Coal-fired power plants (PLTU) have been frequently built in Indonesia over the last 23 years.

Data from Global Energy Monitor shows that Indonesia only recorded no additions to its electricity capacity from new PLTUs in four years: 2001-2003 and 2005.

Outside these years, Indonesia frequently built new coal-fired PLTUs. In 2000, the capacity was 1,720 megawatts (MW).

By 2011, the capacity had jumped to 4,070 MW. After that, the construction of new PLTUs was quite aggressive, with capacities exceeding 1,000 MW.

The largest capacity built was in 2022, reaching 5,100 MW. In 2019, the capacity was also quite high, at 4,461 MW.

The latest data from the first half of 2023 shows a new PLTU capacity of 530 MW. The total over the last 23 years reaches 38,657 MW or 38.65 gigawatts (GW).

(Read also: [Indonesia's Coal-Fired Power Plant Capacity is the 5th Largest in the World](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/08/15/kapasitas-pltu-batu-bara-indonesia-terbesar-ke-5-di-dunia))

The Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) states that canceling new coal-fired PLTU projects and shutting down existing ones in Indonesia by 2040 could prevent 180,000 deaths from air pollution and reduce healthcare costs by US$100 billion or Rp1,500 trillion in the coming decades.

This statement is based on the latest IESR research in collaboration with the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), titled *Health Benefits of Just Energy Transition and Coal Phase-out in Indonesia*.

Fabby Tumiwa, Executive Director of IESR, said that stopping the use of coal-fired PLTUs by 2040 is necessary to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Indonesia currently aims to stop using coal-fired PLTUs by 2050, with some exceptions.

He said the government should urge electricity companies to re-evaluate their plans to build new power plants and immediately take action to switch to renewable energy sources.

"This transition will yield significant economic, social, and health benefits," said Fabby in a written statement on the IESR website, Tuesday (18/7/2023).

(Read also: [This is the Amount of Coal Used for Industry Over the Last 4 Years](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/08/09/ini-banyaknya-penggunaan-batu-bara-untuk-industri-selama-4-tahun-terakhir))