Pelabuhan Ratu power station
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Pelabuhan Ratu power station is an operating power station of at least 1050-megawatts (MW) in Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi, Jawa, Indonesia. It is also known as 公主港电站.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Pelabuhan Ratu power station | Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi, Jawa, Indonesia | -7.0242, 106.5464 (exact) |
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3: -7.0242, 106.5464
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year | Emergency/Backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Operating | coal: unknown, bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids)[1] | 350 | subcritical | 2013 | 2037 (planned) | False |
| Unit 2 | Operating | coal: unknown, bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids)[1] | 350 | subcritical | 2013 | 2037 (planned) | False |
| Unit 3 | Operating | coal: unknown, bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids)[1] | 350 | subcritical | 2013 | 2037 (planned) | False |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | PT PLN Indonesia Power [100%] | PT PLN (Persero) [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | PT PLN Indonesia Power [100%] | PT PLN (Persero) [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | PT PLN Indonesia Power [100%] | PT PLN (Persero) [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): domestic
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Background
The three-unit, 1050-MW coal-fired Pelabuhan Ratu power station was completed in late 2012 and began commercial operations at the beginning of 2013. The plant is owned by PLN.[2][3]
As of November 2024, the power station reportedly co-fired biomass.[4]
Planned retirement
In October 2022, PLN gave their support to the government's early retirement program, which was a scheme designed to increase renewable energy's share of the Indonesian grid. Through the program, Pelabuhan Ratu power station's operational lifespan would be shortened to 15 years, giving it a presumed retirement year of 2037.[5] Before retirement, the power station would be transferred from PLN to PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA).[6]
As of July 2023, ownership had not yet been transferred.[7] In November 2023, PTBA was reportedly "still waiting for government direction regarding the follow-up to the acquisition of the Pelabuhan Ratu PLTU" (Google translate).[8]
In January 2024, a Center of Economic and Law Studies analysis found that the retirement of Cirebon power station and Pelabuhan Ratu power station would eliminate up to 14,022 jobs, but their replacement by renewable energy alternatives would create up to 639,269 jobs.[9]
As of March 2024, PTBA still did not have the Energy Transition Mechanism funding needed to execute the early retirement scheme.[10] In May 2024, the transfer reportedly remained in a "study phase" (Google translate).[11]
As of October 2024, the scheme had yet to make significant progress.[12]
In September 2025, the acquisition remained on hold due to funding constraints.[13]
Financing
- Source of financing: US$481 million in debt from the Export-Import Bank of China; US$175.59 million in debt from Bank Mega[14][15]
Retirement refinancing
As of June 2026, no financial close or final lender group had been identified for the planned early retirement refinancing of Pelabuhan Ratu Units 1-3. Indonesia’s 2023 JETP Comprehensive Investment and Policy Plan listed Pelabuhan Ratu as an early coal retirement priority project, with an estimated early retirement year of 2037, compared with a natural retirement year of 2045, and estimated investment needs of US$830 million.[16] A 2025 coal-to-clean report stated that the 1,050 MW PLN-owned plant would be accelerated by 8 years to 2037 with US$830 million in ADB ETM support, enabled through the sale of the plant from PLN to PT Bukit Asam.[17]
Impact and opposition
In 2019, a coal barge transporting coal to the Pelabuhan Ratu power station capsized and sank, spilling large amounts of coal into the Palabuhanratu bay.[18] Local fisherman have also claimed that the coal barges have disrupted their fishing and damaged their fishing nets. They also claim that a fisherman was struck and killed by one of the coal barges in 2019.[19]
A June 2024 report by the Centre for Research Energy and Clear Air (CREA) estimated that air pollution from Pelabuhan Ratu Units 1-3 was linked to 421 deaths a year and an associated annual economic burden of US$293 million (IDR 4.35 trillion). Pelabuhan Ratu and Cirebon power station Unit 1 have been earmarked for early retirement under Indonesia's Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) plan, and Banten Suralaya power station Units 1-4 have been mentioned as another likely candidate for early closure. CREA's report noted that these three plants account for only 20% of the top ten most polluting coal plants in Java, and that "considering health impacts as part of the factors in setting coal retirement pathways is not explicitly stated in the JETP" plan.[20]
In October 2025, local residents held a demonstration near the power station, raising concerns about biomass co-firing. Protesters highlighted that using land for biomass cultivation could displace food crops.[21]
As of December 2025, land near Pelabuhan Ratu power station was being used to cultivate sorghum for use as a fuel at the plant.[22]
Rolling blackouts on Java Island
On June 20th, 2026, rolling blackout hit parts of the Java island, and on Monday, Indonesia's state electricity company PLN said that the Java electricity system is gradually recovering.[23]
According to PLN CEO Darmawan Prasodjo, the electricity disruption was triggered by technical problems at two coal-fired power plants operated by independent power producers. He also confirmed that a number of large coal-fired power plants in Java have confirmed supplies of medium-calorie coal, including Pelabuhan Ratun power station.[24]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.gem.wiki/Coal_source_methodology_for_the_Global_Coal_Plant_Tracker.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "PLN have announced that construction of a 1,050 MW coal-fired power plant in West Java, PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu, has now been finalised," Salva Report, December 21, 2012
- ↑ "PLN secures Chinese loans for power plants program after Merpati spat solved" Jakarta Post, May 5, 2009.
- ↑ "Setengah Hati Suntik Mati PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu" Bandung Bergerak, November 2, 2024
- ↑ "PLN dan PTBA Kerja Sama Pensiun Dini PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu" PT Bukit Asam Tbk, October 19, 2022.
- ↑ "Simak, Kabar Terbaru Nasib PLTU PLN yang Dialihkan ke PTBA" CNBC Indonesia, February 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Update Peralihan PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu ke PTBA, Ini Kata PLN.." CNBC Indonesia, July 6, 2023.
- ↑ "PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu Masuk Daftar Pensiun Dini, Akuisisi PTBA Tunggu Arahan Pemerintah" Republika.co.id, November 27, 2023.
- ↑ "Prabowo-Gibran pledge to continue energy transition," Indonesia Business Post, January 31, 2024
- ↑ "PTBA Ungkap Alasan Akuisisi PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu Tak Kunjung Rampung," Kumparan Bisnis, March 8, 2024
- ↑ "Apa Kabar Rencana Pensiun Dini PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu? Ini Kata PTBA," CNBC Indonesia, May 8, 2024
- ↑ "Akuisisi PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu Tak Kunjung 'Deal', Ini Kata Bos PTBA," Bisnis Indonesia, October 3, 2024
- ↑ PTBA Tunda Akuisisi PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu, Ini Alasannya, CNBC Indonesia, September 11, 2025
- ↑ Aditya Suharmoko, "PLN secures Chinese loans for power plants program after Merpati spat solved," The Jakarta Post, May 05 2009
- ↑ "Preview of Pelapuhan Ratu Power Plant | Transaction | IJGlobal". ijglobal.com. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
- ↑ "Comprehensive Investment and Policy Plan 2023" (PDF). Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership Secretariat. November 21, 2023. Retrieved June 2026.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Growing the Pipeline of Coal-to-Clean Projects" (PDF). Powering Past Coal Alliance. November 2025. Retrieved June 2026.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ Syahdan Alamsyah, Pengelola PLTU Janji Bersihkan Batu Bara di Pantai Cipatuguran , Detik News, May 11, 2019
- ↑ Nelayan Binuangeun Kecewa Terhadap Pemprov Banten, Biem, June 16, 2021
- ↑ "Health and economic benefits from early phase out of Indonesia’s first JETP coal power plants," Centre for Research Energy and Clear Air, June 20, 2024
- ↑ Masyarakat Terdampak Serukan Penutupan PLTU Co-firing Biomassa, Betahita, October 22, 2025
- ↑ Pacu Transisi Energi, Co-firing Biomassa Sorgum di PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu Dikebut, MetroTVNews, December 8, 2025
- ↑ PLN Confirms Medium Coal Supply to Jumbo Coal Plants in Java, Bisnis.com, June 20, 2026
- ↑ PLN CEO Promises to Speed Up Coal Supply to Steam Power Plants Following Rolling Blackouts, katadata.co.id, June 20, 2026
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
