The Indonesian government is meeting with the nation’s top miners today with a deal to ease this month’s coal ban expected to be announced shortly.
Indonesia shocked energy buyers and the dry bulk shipping community over the weekend by announcing a sudden ban of coal exports for the month of January over concerns about local power blackouts amid tight supplies. The swiftness of the announcement has left many ships bound for Indonesia in limbo.
Under Indonesia’s Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) scheme, miners are obliged to supply 25% of their output to the local market, but critically low stockpiles at power utilities have incited further action from the country’s energy ministry.
However, after much representation to government by the mining industry as well as overseas buyers this week, a deal to ease the ban is likely to be revealed later today.