--- title: "Indonesia Plans Quadrupled Alumina Output Using Coal Power" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/indonesia-plans-quadrupled-alumina-output-using-coal-power" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/indonesia-plans-quadrupled-alumina-output-using-coal-power" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/indonesia-plans-quadrupled-alumina-output-using-coal-power.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/indonesia-plans-quadrupled-alumina-output-using-coal-power" category: "Business & Economy" published: "2026-09-01T08:25:12.339Z" source_reported: "2026-09-01T07:09:26.000Z" updated: "2026-09-01T09:30:30.563Z" trust_score: 55 critic_score: 55 hype_score: 25 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-01T09:30:29.779015+00:00" --- # Indonesia Plans Quadrupled Alumina Output Using Coal Power *The nation aims to significantly boost aluminum production, relying on coal despite climate concerns.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 55 of 100, higher is better. Only AP's report provides named sources and documents; digests lack corroboration. - Craft 55 of 100, higher is better. AP report quotes affected parties; digests lack context and detail. - Hype 25 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are proportionate; digests repeat AP's framing without exaggeration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Indonesia intends to quadruple its alumina output to 32.5 million metric tons and increase aluminum production from 1 million metric tons in 2025 to 14.5 million metric tons by 2030. - The expansion relies on new coal-fired power plants, a strategy that runs counter to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. - The Iran war has reduced Middle East aluminum output by 44% and driven prices up, creating an opportunity for Indonesia. - China has invested significantly in Indonesia's aluminum sector and is expected to increase its stake to $30 billion by 2030. Indonesia is planning a substantial expansion of its aluminum production capacity, aiming to quadruple alumina output to 32.5 million metric tons and increase aluminum production from 1 million metric tons in 2025 to 14.5 million metric tons by 2030. This ambitious plan is being powered by the construction of new smelters that will run on coal, a move that contradicts global efforts to curb climate-changing emissions. The expansion is partly driven by disruptions to global aluminum supply chains caused by the Iran war. The Iran war has led to a 44% reduction in Middle East aluminum output compared to 2025 levels. This disruption has caused aluminum prices to rise from between $3,150 and $3,250 per metric ton before the conflict to as high as $3,780 in June 2026. The global supply issues have accelerated a shift, putting Indonesia on the map as an alternative production region. China, the world's largest aluminum producer, is a key partner in Indonesia's expansion, having invested between $5.5 billion and $6 billion in the sector. Chinese companies are involved in about three-quarters of the planned Indonesian projects, with forecasts suggesting this investment could reach $30 billion by 2030. ## Disagreement on emissions tracking While the Associated Press reports that the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) is tracking 32 prospective coal plants to power these smelters, it also notes that data on emissions from these facilities is limited. Syahdiva Moezbar of CREA stated that this 'captive coal boom all over Indonesia is essentially not tracked,' adding that this situation is 'very concerning'. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports printed below mention the specific figure of 14.5 million metric tons for Indonesia's target aluminum production by 2030. While the Associated Press full report states this figure, it was not carried in the digests from the other outlets. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 70% (7) - Centre: 10% (1) - Right: 20% (2) 1 of 11 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-01T09:30:29.779015+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-01T10:15:25.126Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports led on Indonesia's plan to expand aluminum production using coal power, highlighting the contradiction with climate change efforts. Associated Press, which provided the full report, detailed how the Iran war has disrupted global supplies and driven up prices, creating an opportunity for Indonesia. These reports noted that China is a major investor in Indonesia's aluminum industry. They also quoted environmental advocates who described the reliance on coal as 'greenwashing' and expressed concern about the impact of increased coal use on local communities and air quality. The reports from The Toronto Star, The Seattle Times, The Independent, The Independent (US), and The Hamilton Spectator, all digests, echoed the core message of Indonesia's coal-powered aluminum expansion in the face of global supply issues. ### Centre - The centre-rated report from the Winnipeg Free Press, a digest, focused on Indonesia's expansion of aluminum production as the Iran war disrupts supplies. It mentioned the country's reliance on coal reserves to power new smelters, noting this runs contrary to efforts to curb carbon emissions. The digest also indicated that prices for the metal have risen due to fuel shortfalls and attacks on infrastructure in the Middle East. ### Right - The right-rated digests reported that global aluminum supplies have been affected by the Iran war, increasing production costs. This has led to international interest in developing aluminum in safer areas, with Southeast Asia noted as a region of potential growth. - Both digests mentioned that Indonesia plans to quadruple its alumina output. They also noted that this expansion would be powered by coal, a detail that was present in both reports. - The digests did not include specific figures for the planned output increase or the projected cost of the expansion. No named individuals or organisations were quoted in the provided digests. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 8 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/asia/indonesia-doubles-down-on-coal-to-power-its-aluminum-expansion/article_5815e3f4-d9da-531f-a6b4-ced9b3cbe4db.html) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/business/indonesia-doubles-down-on-coal-to-power-its-aluminum-expansion) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/indonesia-iran-bangkok-jakarta-china-b3042517.html) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/iran-asia-indonesia-coal-aluminum-climate-cb8afddbf1d47c896709db0708b91087) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/indonesia-iran-bangkok-jakarta-china-b3042517.html) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion - [Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer](https://messenger-inquirer.com/ap/ap_international_news/indonesia-doubles-down-on-coal-to-power-its-aluminum-expansion/article_2da69f10-20f0-5f9d-8b9a-28ffb0210ea8.html) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion - [Jonesboro Sun](https://jonesborosun.com/news/world/indonesia-doubles-down-on-coal-to-power-its-aluminum-expansion/article_3d839093-13db-5ef0-ad59-4c056c5eb49b.html) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/d757bbe176db9af8) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/business/indonesia-doubles-down-on-coal-to-power-its-aluminum-expansion/article_186a2921-a6dd-5617-84e2-d4e16d6e49fc.html) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion - [The Record](https://therecord.com/business/indonesia-doubles-down-on-coal-to-power-its-aluminum-expansion/article_2ea0f7e9-3a9b-5662-8b80-162501819deb.html) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/09/01/indonesia-doubles-down-on-coal-to-power-its-aluminum-expansion) — Indonesia doubles down on coal to power its aluminum expansion ## Questions **How much does Indonesia plan to increase its aluminum production?** Indonesia aims to increase its aluminum production from approximately 1 million metric tons in 2025 to 14.5 million metric tons by the year 2030. This significant expansion is intended to capitalize on global supply chain disruptions. **What energy source will power Indonesia's aluminum expansion?** Indonesia plans to power its expanded aluminum production using its abundant coal reserves. This involves building new smelters that will rely on coal-fired power plants, a strategy that has drawn criticism for its environmental impact. **How has the Iran war affected aluminum prices?** The Iran war has disrupted Middle East aluminum output, reducing it by an estimated 44% compared to 2025. This has driven up aluminum prices, which rose from between $3,150 and $3,250 per metric ton before the conflict to as high as $3,780 in June 2026. **What role is China playing in Indonesia's aluminum industry?** China is a major investor in Indonesia's aluminum sector, having already invested between $5.5 billion and $6 billion. Chinese companies are involved in about three-quarters of the planned projects, with forecasts suggesting this investment could reach $30 billion by 2030. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/indonesia-plans-quadrupled-alumina-output-using-coal-power. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Indonesia Plans Quadrupled Alumina Output Using Coal Power", https://mediabias.news/business/indonesia-plans-quadrupled-alumina-output-using-coal-power