TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Government of East Kalimantan on January 4 announced that 25 coal mining companies operating in the province have resumed export activities after fulfilling more than 75 percent of their Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) quota. The announcement came just four days after the government enacted an export ban on the first day of 2022.

The provincial government posted the announcement to its verified Instagram account @pemprov_kaltim, with a statement from the local Energy and Mineral Resources Office chief, Christianus Benny.

"We have reported to leaders that there are 25 companies that have been allowed to export coal, because their DMO (Domestic Market Obligation) has reached 76 to 100 percent," the post said.

In December last year, the Energy Ministry's Mineral and Coal director general Ridwan Djamaluddin issued a ban on coal exports for the entire month of January 2022 due to declining supplies for power plants, including PLN's.

Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) executive director Hendra Sinadia declined to comment on both Benny's announcement and on whether companies that had met more than 75 percent of their DMO quota are allowed to resume exports.

"I cannot comment on that yet. Better ask the government as the regulator," Hendra said.

Ridwan and Indrasari Wisnu Wardhana, acting director general of foreign trade, could not be contacted for comments.

Read: Japan Asks Indonesia to Revoke Coal Export Ban

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