Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) assess, coal commodities in Indonesia has a strategic role in supporting energy security as well as shore up the country's economy, especially foreign exchange earnings from exports. "A number of countries still rely on imported coal from Indonesia, as the main source of electrical energy," said Executive Director of APBI, Hendra Sinadia.

Hendra said the high use of coal for electrical energy in some countries can be seen from the high interest of the 24th Asia Coaltrans conference participants, which will be held on Sunday-Tuesday (6-8 May 2018), in Nusa Dua, Bali. At the cross-country meeting, there were hundreds of coal producers and consumers from various countries. "The international conference will bring together coal producers and buyers, as nearly half of the world's power plants use coal as their energy source and will discuss the latest conditions facing Indonesian coal producers," he said. APBI as an association that oversees the coal producers to ask for support and government's attention, in making the coal sector as the main contributor to non-oil revenues. Please note, the current non-tax state revenue (PNPB) from the minerals and coal sector reaches 75 percent to 80 percent of the total PNPB. Recorded, non-tax revenues in the minerals sector in 2017 reached Rp 40.6 trillion, exceeding the target of the revised budget of Rp 32.7 trillion. Looking at the real contribution to Indonesia's development, Hendra believes the coal industry is still potential and prospective for the long term. Although, there are external pressures such as reduced coal use. "Hope coal actors, still given support by the government, because the role of this industry is important for our energy and economic resilience," he explained. (Source : www.beritasatu.com)