[SMM Steel] Turkish Billet Diverges: Domestic Prices Rise on Rebar as Heavy Restocking Curbs Import Buying

Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province plans to convert six small coal-fired power plants on Lombok and Sumbawa islands into solar facilities. Proposed by state utility PT PLN, all conversion plans remain under technical assessment, with no implementation timetable established. The initiative excludes larger facilities such as the Jeranjang power plant in West Lombok. Separately, the provincial Energy and Mineral Resources Office said PLN had identified approximately 1.73 GW of renewable-energy potential, mainly solar and wind; this figure does not represent the capacity of the proposed replacement projects. Land availability remains the main obstacle, and development will require cooperation with investors.

Indonesia’s Kideco has deployed 18 electric mining trucks at its East Kalimantan mining operations, supported by three battery swapping stations. The project is being implemented with invi, an Indika Energy subsidiary, following trials that began in 2024 and an initial deployment of six trucks during March–July 2026. According to the article’s main text, the electric trucks are projected to reduce energy consumption by up to 50% and operating costs by around 30% compared with the diesel fleet. The project could improve mine transport efficiency, but these reductions remain projections.

Forge Resources announced on September 8 that it had completed the underground ramp to operational depth at its La Estrella coal project in Santander, Colombia, and was commencing crosscut development toward the coal seams. The crosscut will initially use a 12.4-square-metre support section before transitioning to a 9.0-square-metre section, which the company expects to accelerate subsequent advance. Forge Resources holds an 80% interest in project developer Aion Mining. According to the company, La Estrella is fully permitted and contains eight known seams of metallurgical and thermal coal.