Indonesia's South Sumatra provincial government will close coal barge traffic on the Lalan River from January 1, 2026, unless funding is secured by the end of this year to repair a key bridge damaged by a coal vessel, officials said on December 22.

The Lalan Bridge, located in Musi Banyuasin (Muba) regency, collapsed in August 2024 after being struck by a coal barge, cutting an important public transport link. Repairs were initially planned to be completed by the end of 2025 using private-sector funding, but construction has yet to resume due to budget constraints.

Coal traffic on Lalan River is crucial for moving coal from Muba, one of the major coal producing bases in South Sumatra, to ports. The river is one of few viable large-scale alternatives to road haulage for coal in the province, and barging is cheaper than road transport, allowing miners, especially small and mid-sized producers, to remain competitive.

Apriyadi Mahmud, Assistant I for Government and Public Welfare at the South Sumatra provincial administration, said the government would wait until December 31, 2025, for funds to be deposited before enforcing the closure.

"If funds for completing the bridge are not available by the end of December, the closure of the coal transportation route will begin on January 1," Mahmud said.

The local government has asked coal industry associations and related parties to provide around 35 billion rupiah ($2.1 million) to finance the repairs, stressing that the money must be available in an account to allow construction work to continue and contractors to be paid.

The planned restriction would apply only to coal barges. Vessels carrying basic food supplies, agricultural products, or materials for national strategic projects would still be allowed to pass, Mahmud said.

Authorities said they were administratively and operationally prepared to enforce the closure if the funding deadline is missed, underscoring growing scrutiny of coal transport safety on inland waterways.