Indonesia halves output at coal power plant as pollution spikes

Smoke rises from chimneys of the Suralaya coal-fired power plant in Cilegon, Banten. - AFP

JAKARTA (AFP): Indonesia has nearly halved output at a major coal-fired power plant near the capital Jakarta after the city faced major pollution spikes in recent weeks, its operator told AFP Wednesday (Sept 6).

The reduction came a week before Indonesia hosted leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and top officials from the United States, Japan, China and South Korea for summits tackling a spate of regional issues.