ANALISIS KESIAPAN SEKTOR PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK TENAGA UAP (PLTU) BATU BARA DALAM MENGHADAPI IMPLEMENTASI PAJAK KARBON DI INDONESIA : WACANA REGULASI DAN REALISASI ROADMAP GREEN TAX 2026

Abstract

Indonesia has created a legal framework for a carbon tax under Law No. 7 of 2021  concerning the Harmonization of Tax Regulations, which sets a base rate of IDR  30,000 for each ton of CO2 equivalent. However, the implementation of the carbon  tax continues to be delayed despite th target date being 2025. This research shows  that the Coal-Fired Power Generation sector, the only industry currently operating  within the mandatory Emissions Trading System and with verified data, is ready to  implement a carbon tax aligned with the existing regulatory structure. Using a  qualitative strategy and methods through analysis of policy documents, laws and  regulations (such as Presidential Regulation No. 110/2025), operational data from  IDX Carbon and ICAP, and secondary information from the IEA, Climate Action  Tracker, and IETA, this research assesses three aspects of sector readiness:  technical-operational (monitoring, reporting, and verification systems), financial  (ability to absorb costs), and regulatory-institutional (governance alignment). The  findings indicate that while the coal-fired power sector has made significant  progress during Phase 1 of the ETS (2023-2024), which covers 99 coal-fired power  plants connected to PLN, representing 37% of the nation's total generation capacity,  significant readiness gaps remain. These gaps include: insufficient ETS liquidity  (with less than 500,000 tCO2e insured in the initial compliance year), the lack of a definitive plan to increase the carbon tax rate, incomplete monitoring, reporting,  and verification infrastructure, and the absence of a mechanism to transfer carbon  costs into electricity prices. As Phase 2 aims to increase coverage to 563 facilities  by 2025, including both coal-fired and gas-fired power plants, and given the  potential impact of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism  (CBAM) on export competitiveness, the need to address these gaps becomes even  more urgent. The study concludes with feasible policy recommendations that align  with PR 110/2025 and Indonesia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)  objectives.