As a result of this environmental issue, the coal industry is facing challenges. We must be able to answer this challenge
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Geological Agency at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said that the total coal resources in Indonesia reached 143.73 billion tons with reserves of 38.81 billion tons.
“Indonesia has a very large coal wealth. The results of research by the Geological Agency in 2020 recorded coal resources of 143.73 billion tons with reserves of 38.81 billion tons,” said the Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Eko Budi Lelono in a discussion of the use of FABA. (ash from coal burning) which was monitored in Jakarta, Thursday.
As much as 90 percent of coal reserves in Indonesia have medium and low calories for consumption of the electricity, smelter, cement, fertilizer and paper industries.
Last year, domestic coal consumption or Domestic Market Obligation recorded at 121.89 million tons with the largest use for supplying Steam Power Plants (PLTU).
Furthermore, Eko said that currently more than 50 percent of power plants in Indonesia are coal-fired power plants.
There are 237 coal-fired power plants in Indonesia, of which 31 percent are located in Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara. Then, Sumatra has 25 percent, Sulawesi 17 percent, Maluku 2 percent, and Papua 1 percent.
The total installed capacity of the coal-fired power plant is 34.6 Giga Watts. The use of coal is 98.9 million tons with potential Fly Ash and Bottom Ash (FABA) as much as 9.89 million tons.
Currently, Indonesia is facing challenges related to environmental issues due to the number of PLTUs and the use of coal which is said to produce carbon dioxide emissions which trigger an increase in the earth’s temperature.
“As a result of this environmental issue, the coal industry is facing challenges. We must be able to answer these challenges,” said Eko.
In research conducted by the Geological Agency from 2018 to 2020 in South Sumatra and East Kalimantan, coal contains rare earth metals or Rare Earth Element (REE) of 200 ppm, while the concentration in coal ash can reach 10 times or around 2,000 ppm.
As is known, the government is currently working to increase the added value of coal through the downstream mechanism as an effort to maximize the potential of domestic coal resources which are still abundant.
Gajah Mada University Faculty of Engineering lecturer, Ferian Anggara, said that Indonesia must conduct a comprehensive study regarding the characteristics of coal and the characteristics of FABA in order to maximize this potential.
Referring to Government Regulation Number 22 of 2017 concerning New and Renewable Energy, he continued, coal is included renewable energy through downstream programs in the form of gasification and liquefaction.
“We have to see coal not only as a commodity, but as an integral unit that can be utilized, starting from the existing supply of power plants to utilizing waste to produce new products,” said Ferian.
“We as researchers see it as a return to be used as much as possible for the interests of Indonesia,” he added.
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Reporter: Sugiharto Purnama
Editor: Faisal Yunianto
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