Govt says no plan yet to relax nickel production quota in 2026 RKAB
Thursday, June 18 2026 - 09:00 AM WIB
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has no plans at present to relax nickel production quotas under the 2026 Work Plan and Budget (RKAB), despite the government's consideration of higher coal production amid rising commodity prices.
Cecep Mochammad Yasin, Director of Mineral Business Development at the ministry's Directorate General of Mineral and Coal, said the approved nickel production target remains unchanged at around 260 million to 270 million tonnes.
"There has been no directive. There is no relaxation," Cecep said on Wednesday during a public discussion on critical minerals organized by the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef).
He said the possibility of production quota relaxation currently applies only to coal, following earlier statements by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia regarding potential adjustments to coal output in response to market conditions.
"That is what we have heard from the minister, regarding coal relaxation," Cecep said.
Although no increase in nickel production quotas is planned, mining companies will be allowed to submit RKAB revisions beginning July 1. The revision period will remain open until July 31.
Director General of Mineral and Coal Tri Winarno previously said the government would assess revision requests based on market conditions and potential state revenue generation.
Tri noted that coal production had declined as of mid-May 2026, while government revenue from the sector remained relatively stable due to stronger coal prices.
"We want mineral and coal commodities to be sold at appropriate prices. We should not sell them too cheaply, but we also should not disrupt domestic needs," Tri said earlier this month.
The ministry is currently considering a measured relaxation of coal production quotas after Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said higher coal prices, driven in part by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, could justify increased output.
At the start of 2026, the government set the national coal production target at around 600 million tonnes, down from the 735 million tonnes approved in the 2025 RKAB and below the 790 million tonnes produced in 2025.
Editing by Alexander Ginting