About the project and its impacts
The Pangkalan Susu Coal-fired Power Plant is located in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The project was commissioned by the state electricity company PLN and constructed in phases by Chinese firms Guangdong Power Engineering Corporation and Sinohydro, in partnership with Indonesian company PT Nusantara Energi Mandiri. Financing involved significant loans from the Export-Import Bank of China, while multiple coal suppliers from Indonesian Borneo and Sumatra profit from the plant’s operations.
The plant’s operations have devastated local ecosystems and livelihoods. Coal ash is dumped without filtration into the air and water — covertly during the night, to evade detection — poisoning land and reducing farmers’ harvests by up to 75%. Fisherfolk, forced out of their traditional fishing grounds by armed security personnel, face the double burden of declining fish stocks and unsafe fishing conditions as they are pushed farther out to sea with inadequate equipment.
“We fishermen are the ones most affected by the Pangkalan Susu coal-fired power plant. The hot waste it releases into the sea has destroyed our fishing grounds. Many of us have been forced to abandon the ocean and change professions—I now work in construction. We’ve lost our livelihoods, and the plant’s pollution has even caused skin rashes in our community. We want this coal plant shut down because it is destroying our lives.” (Dedy Susanto, a Fisherman from Pangkalan Susu, North Sumatera (near Pangkalan Susu CFPP)
Respiratory illnesses and cancer are also on the rise, and many residents are forced to migrate to plantations or cities in search of work, leaving their homes and traditions behind.
Beyond environmental damage, community members face significant intimidation and threats. Security forces working with the plant have suppressed protests, while whistleblowers risk losing their jobs, or worse. For example, a local activist was almost killed while trying to collect proof and data for a report to the U.N. on illegal activities. This climate of fear has silenced many, yet organizations like our CRE partner Srikandi Lestari Foundation persist in their advocacy to push for accountability.
Meanwhile, promises of sustainability ring hollow. Efforts to rebrand coal-based operations as “clean,” such as by converting coal to synthetic liquid gas, fail to address the ongoing environmental and health crises. The broader context of national energy strategies further exacerbates the challenges. The Sarulla geothermal project, for example, has left nearby villages dry and barren from its siphoning of water for its operations, while displacing Indigenous Toba Batak families and labeling their land as “cursed” to justify its degradation.
About the community-led struggle
Against this backdrop, our CRE partner Yayasan Srikandi Lestari (YSL) – a women-led environmental and human rights organization created in 2015 – is supporting the local community in helping document impacts, mobilize, and advance their advocacy efforts. Through a CRE grant, YSL also launched an eight-month capacity building project for local activists to develop security and organizational protection standards for human rights defenders; foster a supportive environment through well-being initiatives; and enhance the knowledge and skills of community activists regarding Indonesian laws and advocacy strategies.
The project led to several positive outcomes.
- Several human rights organizations adopted the security protocols developed during the training sessions, adapting them to meet their specific needs. This marked a critical step in strengthening their safety and operational capacity.
- The wellbeing activities not only provided a much-needed respite for the local activists, but also helped boost their morale and reinvigorate their commitment to advocacy.
- Participants gained a deeper understanding of Indonesian laws and the advocacy strategies needed to effectively campaign against harmful investments.
In addition, YSL has been joining capacity-building sessions organized by the CRE, connecting with national and international allies, and joining international events (such as the the Women Environmental Rights Summit in Bali in 2026).