The coal sector is said to be the largest contributor to carbon emissions in Indonesia. This was revealed in a research report published by Publish What You Pay Indonesia, titled “Improving Greenhouse Gas Emissions Transparency in the Indonesian Coal Sector through the 2023 EITI Standard .”
The report launch was accompanied by a discussion with various stakeholders from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Environment, the Indonesian Coal Business Association, and the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The research dissemination event took place in Central Jakarta on Thursday (March 12, 2026).
Astrid Meliala, a senior researcher at the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law and a member of the writing team, stated that the energy sector accounts for approximately 75 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The largest emissions come from the electricity and heat generation sector, followed by transportation and manufacturing.
In Indonesia, dependence on coal in the national energy system contributes to high carbon emissions.
“In the downstream sector, Indonesia’s energy sector contributes 43 percent of total national emissions and is heavily dependent on coal. Fifty-one percent of CO₂ emissions come from combustion in coal-fired power plants (PLTU),” Astrid said in the report’s presentation.
In addition to carbon dioxide, coal mining activities also produce methane (CH4) emissions. The report states that by 2024, potential methane emissions from coal mines could be eight times greater than official government data.
PWYP Indonesia researcher and report author Muhammad Adzkia Farirahman assessed that transparency of emissions data still faces various challenges, one of which is the lack of integration of emissions reporting obligations into core mining business processes.
According to him, emissions reporting should be integrated into business planning documents, such as the Work Plan and Budget (RKAB), for mining companies.
“In fact, this could provide an opportunity for the government to provide guidance and encourage more systematic transparency of GHG emissions information,” he said.
He also highlighted that although several regulations mandate emissions reporting, the public still lacks direct access to this data. These regulations include Law No. 14 of 2008 concerning Public Information Disclosure and Presidential Regulation No. 110 of 2025.
Representing the Directorate of GHG Inventory and Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification at the Ministry of Environment, Budiharto acknowledged that emissions reporting by business actors has not been fully optimal.
“Businesses are indeed required to report GHG emissions, but in reality, this reporting has not met expectations. The findings of this research can provide input for improving the reporting system,” he said.
Meanwhile, Surya Herjuna, Director of Coal Business Development at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, stated that the government is currently preparing an inventory of GHG emissions in the mining and electricity sectors.
This year, the government plans to conduct trials and public consultations regarding the readiness to implement a GHG emissions inventory in the coal sector.
Katherine Hasan, an analyst at the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, emphasized that transparency of emissions data is a crucial factor in promoting accountability in energy policies and accelerating the transition to clean energy.
“Real-time transparency of emissions data can be a key catalyst for validating the decarbonization process and attracting global green investment,” he said.
Researchers believe that transparency in GHG emissions data is a crucial step in monitoring national emission reduction targets and strengthening Indonesia’s commitment to addressing the challenges of global climate change.
Source: Media Indonesia