UNMASKING INDONESIA’S MOST TOXIC COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS

This report by Trend Asia, CELIOS, and CREA identifies the 20 most toxic coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in Indonesia, termed the "Toxic Twenty." It analyzes the severe public health, economic, and environmental costs associated with these facilities, arguing that current government retirement roadmaps are insufficient and often delayed by a reliance on unproven technologies like co-firing and CCS/CCUS. The report provides detailed case studies for several plants, documenting widespread respiratory illnesses, loss of traditional livelihoods in fisheries and agriculture, and significant negative impacts on regional GDP.

• The "Toxic Twenty" coal-fired power plants are projected to cause at least 156,000 premature deaths from air pollution and generate economic losses of USD 109 billion (approximately IDR 1,813 trillion) between 2026 and 2050.
• The operation of these 20 plants results in an annual economic loss of IDR 52.4 trillion, including an estimated reduction in household income of IDR 48.4 trillion.
• Environmental degradation from the Toxic Twenty has led to the loss of an estimated 1.45 million jobs, primarily in the fisheries, plantation, and agriculture sectors.
• Health impacts linked to CFPP pollution include stroke, ischemic heart disease, lower respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and diabetes.
• Foreign institutions and countries dominate the financing of the Toxic Twenty, with Japan as the largest financier (63,328 MW), followed by China (18,815 MW) and the United Kingdom (10,325 MW).
• The Suralaya CFPP complex in Banten is identified as the most toxic, causing 1,063 premature adult deaths and 8 child deaths per year, with an annual economic burden of USD 1.04 billion.
• The Paiton CFPP complex in East Java is associated with 612 adult deaths and 2 child deaths annually, and causes an annual economic burden of USD 408 million.
• The Cirebon CFPP in West Java causes an estimated 1,109 adult deaths and 4 child deaths per year, with an annual economic burden of USD 737 million.
• The Tanjung Jati B CFPP in Central Java is linked to 470 adult deaths and 2 child deaths annually, creating an economic burden of USD 314 million per year.
• The Cilacap CFPP in Central Java is associated with 1,435 adult deaths and 6 child deaths per year, resulting in an annual economic burden of USD 953 million.
• Biomass co-firing is criticized as a "greenwashing" maneuver used to prolong the operational life of aging coal plants rather than facilitating a genuine energy transition.
• The report critiques the government's use of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for retirement planning, noting that it assigns a higher weight to financing (27.1%) than to greenhouse gas emissions (9.3%) or the energy transition (10.1%).
• The Batang CFPP has caused significant social conflict, including reports of intimidation and physical violence against landowners by state security apparatus and hired thugs.
• The Ombilin CFPP in West Sumatra has been linked to severe respiratory issues in children, with one screening showing 66% of elementary students had developed respiratory disorders including chronic bronchitis and pulmonary TB.
• The Pangkalan Susu CFPP in North Sumatra is linked to high rates of skin diseases and respiratory infections, with an investigation finding 243 instances of skin disease among residents.

APA

Trend Asia (n.d.). UNMASKING INDONESIA’S MOST TOXIC COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ENG-Buku_TOXIC-20.pdf

Chicago

Trend Asia. UNMASKING INDONESIA’S MOST TOXIC COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS. n.d. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ENG-Buku_TOXIC-20.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Trend Asia |title=UNMASKING INDONESIA’S MOST TOXIC COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS |url=https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ENG-Buku_TOXIC-20.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{trendasiandunmasking, author = {{Trend Asia}}, title = {{UNMASKING INDONESIA’S MOST TOXIC COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS}}, institution = {Trend Asia}, url = {https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ENG-Buku_TOXIC-20.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }