Indonesia's police anti-corruption task force, Kortas Tipikor, formally escalated its probe into coal supply procurement for state-owned coal power plants (PLTU) to a full investigation on July 4, 2026. Two mining companies PT OBP in South Sumatra and PT BRA in East Kalimantan are accused of manipulating coal quality, quantity, and contract pricing between 2018 and 2026, a practice investigators say contributed to power outages across Sumatra, parts of Kalimantan, Central Java, East Java, and Greater Jakarta. Estimated state losses stand at around Rp5 trillion (roughly USD 275 million), pending a final audit by Indonesia's Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).
On July 8, a joint police team raided eight locations, including a café in South Jakarta where investigators found a hidden safe holding foreign currency worth roughly Rp67.4 billion. The raid was also linked to two related cases: alleged corruption at state insurer Asabri and a money-laundering probe tied to a corporate debt settlement.
Lawmakers, former anti-corruption officials, and student groups have called for a thorough probe reaching any masterminds behind the scheme. So far no suspects have been named; investigators continue questioning witnesses and tracing funds with Indonesia's financial intelligence unit, PPATK.
Sources
detikNews – "7 Fakta Korupsi Batu Bara Picu Blackout di Sumatera Diusut Polri"
Kompas.com – "Polri Sebut Korupsi Batu Bara Picu Blackout, Negara Rugi Rp 5 Triliun"
Kompas.com – "Modus Dugaan Korupsi Batu Bara yang Picu Blackout di Jawa, Sumatera, hingga Kalimantan"
CNN Indonesia – "Dugaan Korupsi Batu Bara PLTU Picu Blackout Rugikan Negara Rp5 Triliun"
CNN Indonesia – "Polisi Geledah Kafe-Money Changer Jaksel Kasus Batu Bara Hingga Asabri"
CNBC Indonesia – "Korupsi Pengadaan Batu Bara PLTU Picu Padamnya Listrik, Ini Modusnya"
ANTARA News – "Polisi geledah kafe dan money changer usut dugaan korupsi batu bara"
Tribunnews.com – "Polri Amankan Rp67,4 M saat Geledah Kafe & Money Changer soal Kasus Korupsi Batu Bara hingga Asabri"
Kompas.com – "Anggota DPR Minta Polri Jamin Transparansi Pengusutan Kasus Korupsi Batu Bara"
Suara.com – "BEM FT UI Minta Pengusutan Korupsi Batu Bara PLTU Bebas Intervensi dan Transparan"
