Published on Aprill 13, 2026, by Bloomberg Technoz
By Azura Yumna Ramadani Purnama
Bloomberg Technoz, Jakarta – State-owned electricity company PT PLN (Persero) will replace 2,396 diesel-fired power plants (PLTD) in 741 locations with solar power plants (PLTS) with a capacity of 3.21 gigawatt peak (GWp) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a capacity of 9.03 gigawatt hours (GWh).
PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo said the 2,396 diesel-fired power plants have a total capacity of 1,076 MW and are mostly located in Eastern Indonesia.
Darmawan explained that the PLTS will consider the availability of mini-hydro power plants (PLTMH) in the region. If these are unavailable, PLN will step in to build battery storage.
“PLN has also planned to reduce fuel consumption in the electricity sector at 741 diesel-powered power plants, with a total of approximately 2,139 diesel engines,” Darmawan said during a hearing (RDP) at Commission XII of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday (April 13, 2026).
Darmawan said the construction of solar power plants (PLTS) will be carried out in stages, taking into account the capabilities of PLN and potential partners.
“Reducing the use of imported energy will be done in the short and medium term, so that not only energy security can be improved, but also energy costs can be lowered, and we will also see a shift from fossil fuels to new and renewable energy sources,” Darmawan said.
Met after the RDP, PLN’s Director of Power Plant Management, Rizal Calvary Marimbo, stated that the de-dieselization program will be implemented over the long term, spanning 5-10 years.
He said that he would soon develop a de-dieselization roadmap, which will outline the annual reduction in diesel power plant usage and the program’s implementation strategy.
Rizal also emphasized that the dedieselization program would reduce the company’s electricity supply cost (BPP).
“God willing, the roadmap could be implemented from now on, for the next five or ten years,” Rizal told the media at the Parliament Complex on Monday (April 13, 2026).
President Prabowo Subianto, however, wants to eliminate diesel-powered plants (PLTDs) and will close 13 PLTDs owned by PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero), or PLN.
Therefore, Prabowo has decided to implement a 100-GW electrification program, which he hopes to achieve within two years.
He claims that closing these 13 PLTDs will directly save 20% on fuel imports.
“By shutting down 13 diesel-fired power plants at PLN, we will save 200,000 barrels per day. We currently still need to import one million barrels per day. By shutting down the diesel-powered plants, we will immediately save 20%,” Prabowo said at the inauguration of the Electric Commercial Vehicle Assembly Plant in Magelang, Central Java, on Thursday (April 9, 2026).
Previously, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, revealed plans to revise the 2025-2034 Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) of PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero), as the government is accelerating de-dieselization and the construction of solar power plants (PLTS).
Bahlil revealed that this decision was discussed after President Prabowo Subianto formed an energy transition task force. The task force will accelerate the use of alternative energy sources, including geothermal energy.
“Perhaps we can take action by this holiday, and the first thing we will complete is replacing diesel generators with solar power plants (PLTS) and geothermal power plants,” Bahlil told the media at the Presidential Palace Complex, as quoted on Friday (March 13, 2026).
“And I also plan to amend the RUPTL (Regional Energy Planning and Development Plan),” Bahlil said.
Bahlil stated that the PLTS will be located in various regions, especially in areas that previously had diesel power plants (PLTD).
According to Bahlil, accelerating the use of clean, renewable energy (EBT) is crucial amidst skyrocketing global oil prices and the potential for tight oil and gas supplies in the global market.
“Therefore, we are optimizing all our domestic potential, energies that we can convert from fossil fuels, so we can do this,” he said.