Palembang. South Sumatra has banned coal trucks from using a crucial bridge following a partial collapse that shows the strain Indonesia’s booming coal industry places on local infrastructure.

Governor Herman Deru issued the ban effective July 7, days after the June 29 incident left four trucks stranded on the damaged Muara Lawai bridge linking Lahat and Muara Enim regencies. No casualties were reported, but the collapse disrupted heavy vehicle traffic along one of the province’s critical coal transport routes.

“This measure is to protect public safety and infrastructure,” Deru said, adding that law enforcement would impose strict penalties on violators. 

Indonesia, the world’s largest exporter of thermal coal, shipped over 480 million tons in 2024, with coal generating around $30 billion in export revenue annually. South Sumatra contributes around 50 million tons to national output each year, making it one of Indonesia’s top coal-producing provinces.

However, the economic benefits have come at a cost. According to provincial estimates, over 5,000 coal trucks, many overloaded, use South Sumatra’s public roads daily, accelerating wear and leading to frequent repairs that strain local budgets. In Muara Enim alone, road and bridge repair costs linked to coal transport have reached tens of billions of rupiah annually.

The Muara Lawai Bridge collapsed late on June 29, trapping four trucks, including three loaded coal trucks, on the damaged structure. While no casualties were reported, the incident halted heavy vehicle traffic between Lahat and Muara Enim, with only light vehicles allowed to pass via a temporary bridge.

The governor said other regional leaders have requested similar restrictions in 13 regencies and cities across South Sumatra. The provincial government is currently reviewing the proposal.

Separately, Deru stressed that mining companies, not the government, are responsible for building dedicated roads for coal transport to prevent further damage to public infrastructure. “Coal trucks must use special roads, not provincial, regency, or village roads,” he said.

Muara Enim Regent Edison has voiced support for a total ban on coal trucks using public roads. “There has been significant damage to roads and bridges in Muara Enim from overloaded coal trucks,” Edison said, adding that the ban should be implemented sooner than the initial January 1, 2026 target.

During a recent coordination meeting in Palembang, regents and mayors agreed not to grant exemptions for coal trucks to use public roads, citing years of road damage and environmental pollution that threaten community safety.

Authorities are now working to strengthen existing regulations to enforce the coal truck ban, including revisions to a 2018 gubernatorial regulation on coal transport.

The Ministry of Public Works estimates that damage to infrastructure caused by overdimension and overloaded (ODOL) trucks costs the state Rp 43.45 trillion (about $2.8 billion) annually, reducing the lifespan of roads from 11 years to just 3 years. ODOL vehicles account for 63 percent of freight traffic, particularly on the Trans-Sumatra and Trans-Java toll roads, and contribute to 17 percent of road accidents. 

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