KELASTAMBANG: A multi-stakeholder forum group discussion (FGD) on Indonesia’s coal and mineral pricing policy will be held on October 2, 2025, at JS Luwansa Hotel, Jakarta, to assess the challenges and direction of benchmark pricing for coal (HBA) and reference mineral prices, according to the Indonesian Mining Association.
The FGD, themed “Tantangan, Peluang, dan Arah Kebijakan Harga Batubara Acuan dan Harga Patokan Mineral” (Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Direction for Coal Benchmark Price and Mineral Reference Price), is organised by IATambang and supported by state-owned mining company PT Antam and Indonesian Coal Mining Association (ICMA).
The discussion will bring together representatives from government, academia, civil society, mining companies, and the media. Dr. Ir. Tri Winarno, S.T., M.T., Director General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, pending confirmation.
Discussion segments will cover academic analysis of the HBA methodology, industrial impacts on contracts, exports and Domestic Market Obligation (DMO), and community perspectives on social and environmental implications. Additional panels will address public perceptions and policy communication.
Separately, F. Hary Kristiono, President Director of UCOAL Sumberdaya, highlighted in a LinkedIn post the rationale behind the recent revocation of Ministerial Decree No. 268K/2025, which had proposed using HBA (Harga Batubara Acuan) as a reference for export pricing.
Citing market dynamics, he noted that while Indonesia exports 558 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), representing 43 percent of China’s coal imports, this only affects 5 percent of global price movements during oversupply conditions.
“Indonesia’s coal only enters China when prices are lower than China’s domestic coal. This is due to arbitrage opportunity,” he wrote, adding that establishing a producer-country coalition could help stabilize prices and protect fiscal revenues during energy transition.