Jakarta: Malaysia has held discussions with Indonesia regarding the issue of coal supply, following the decision by the world's largest thermal coal supplier to reduce production this year. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the matter was among those raised during separate meetings with Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, and the President's Special Envoy for Energy and Climate, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, held on Wednesday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah emphasized the importance of clarifying Indonesia's policy changes, as Indonesia currently supplies coal to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Malaysia's primary electricity utility company. Fadillah expressed hope that the reduced production would not impact coal supplies to Malaysia. His comments came during an invitation as a panelist for a dialogue session at the ASEAN Climate Forum in Jakarta.
Fadillah, who also serves as the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, is on a three-day visit to Jakarta aimed at enhancing strategic collaboration in the energy sector between the two nations. This visit includes discussions on various energy projects and agreements. Bahlil Lahadalia had earlier announced Indonesia's plans to cut coal production to approximately 600 million tonnes, marking a 24 percent reduction from the previous year's output of 790 million tonnes. The reduction aims to stabilize coal prices and ensure long-term sustainability of the country's coal reserves.
During his meetings in Jakarta, Fadillah also addressed topics such as the ASEAN Power Grid, the undersea cable project connecting Sarawak and Johor, and the extension of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Malaysia and Indonesia on energy cooperation. He expressed gratitude towards the Indonesian leaders for their support and readiness to collaborate.
Fadillah further mentioned Malaysia's willingness to collaborate on energy supply with Indonesia if requested, highlighting that Sarawak currently supplies 100 megawatts of electricity to West Kalimantan. This initiative reflects Malaysia's commitment to regional energy collaboration and mutual support.