Jakarta – Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia has launched a research report titled “Enhancing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Transparency in Indonesia’s Coal Sector through the EITI 2023 Standard.” The dissemination of the research was accompanied by a discussion involving respondents from various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the Ministry of Environment (KLH), the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI), and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The event was held in Central Jakarta on Thursday (12/03/2026).
Representing the team of authors, Astrid Meliala, Senior Researcher at the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), explained that the energy sector accounts for nearly three-quarters (75 percent) of global GHG emissions. The largest source of emissions comes from electricity and heat generation, followed by the transportation and manufacturing sectors. At the national level, coal accounts for 51 percent of CO₂ emissions.
“In the downstream sector, Indonesia’s energy sector contributes 43 percent of total national emissions and remains highly dependent on coal. Around 51 percent of CO₂ emissions come from combustion in coal-fired power plants,” she said while presenting the research findings.
In addition to CO₂, Indonesia’s large coal production contributes to rising methane (CH₄) emissions, another greenhouse gas. In 2024, emissions generated from coal mine openings were estimated to be up to eight times higher than the official data released by the Indonesian government.
GHG emissions directly impact climate change. Reducing GHG emissions is therefore a key step in addressing the climate crisis. For this reason, transparency in GHG emissions data is an essential starting point for monitoring and driving emissions reductions, particularly in the energy sector.
“Transparency and emissions reporting function as instruments for public oversight of the climate impacts of mining activities. Emissions transparency also has direct implications for achieving national climate targets,” she explained.
Muhammad Adzkia Farirahman, a researcher at PWYP Indonesia and one of the study’s authors, stated that improving transparency on GHG emissions faces complex challenges. One of them is the absence of an integrated supporting ecosystem within the coal business process.
“There is still no integration of emissions reporting obligations into the core business processes of mining activities. For instance, emissions reporting could be incorporated into the approval process of the annual Work Plan and Budget (RKAB). This could provide the government with an opportunity to strengthen oversight and promote more systematic disclosure of GHG emissions data,” he said.
According to Azil, the nickname of Muhammad Adzkia Farirahman, the government has issued several regulations mandating companies to disclose GHG emissions. These range from general regulations, such as Law No. 14/2008 on Public Information Disclosure, to sectoral regulations related to energy transition, carbon, and emissions, which fall under the technical authority of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Environment.
“However, the public still cannot directly access emissions data. At the same time, the Ministry of Environment has not yet published emissions data in accordance with standards used by various international platforms. As a result, several information disputes regarding access to emissions data have persisted, even reaching the cassation and judicial review stages, because the public has not obtained the emissions data they requested,” he explained.
Meanwhile, representing the Directorate of GHG Inventory and Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) of the Ministry of Environment, Budiharto acknowledged that businesses are legally required to report GHG emissions under Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 110/2025 on the Implementation of Carbon Economic Value Instruments and National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Control. Going forward, improvements to the GHG emissions reporting system are needed.
“The challenge we face today is that, although businesses are required to report emissions, the implementation has not yet met our expectations. The findings of this research will support our efforts. Moving forward, we will work to improve the reporting system,” he said.
Regarding GHG emissions within the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the government is currently focusing on the electricity and mining sectors. Surya Herjuna, Director of Coal Business Development at the Ministry, stated that the ministry has planned activities to implement GHG emissions inventory processes. This year, pilot testing and public consultations are scheduled to assess readiness for implementing GHG emissions inventories. The findings of this research could serve as valuable input during this stage.
Katherine Hasan, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), emphasized that transparency in emissions data is essential to promote accountability and support the energy transition. It is also important for assessing the impacts of energy planning and air quality management decisions. Therefore, transparency plays a crucial role in achieving emissions reduction targets.
“Real-time emissions data transparency is a key catalyst for validating decarbonization and attracting global green investment. Making transparency the foundation of energy sovereignty and sustainable economic growth,” she said.
Contact Persons:
Head of Research and Advocacy Division, PWYP Indonesia
Mouna Wasef
mouna@pwypindonesia.org / WhatsApp: +62 812 8443 6297
Researcher, PWYP Indonesia
Azil
farirahman@pwypindonesia.org / WhatsApp: +62 858 4662 8885