Beyond Commercial Risk: Resolving the Conflict of Pacta Sunt Servanda and Force Majeure in Coal Procurement Litigation
Published:
2026-11-04Abstract
The coal procurement sector is highly vulnerable to external disruptions, frequently blurring the lines between pure breach of contract and force majeure. This study aims to resolve the conflict of norms between the principle of pacta sunt servanda (Article 1338 of the Indonesian Civil Code) and exemption from liability due to force majeure (Articles 1244 and 1245). Employing normative legal research with statute, conceptual, and case approaches, this study analyzed a primary dispute involving CV. Karya Putra Bersama and 10 Supreme Court decisions from the last five years. Data processing utilized NVivo for thematic coding and crosstab analysis, followed by deductive syllogism. The findings reveal that courts apply a restrictive interpretation of force majeure, explicitly distinguishing it from commercial risk. Fluctuations in global coal prices, seasonal weather, and operational constraints are categorized as foreseeable business risks requiring mitigation, not valid grounds for exemption. Consequently, CV. Karya Putra Bersama’s failure to deliver 75,000 metric tons of coal constitutes a pure breach of contract, as it lacked absolute impossibility (Act of God or Act of State). This study contributes theoretically by establishing rigid normative parameters that prevent the misuse of force majeure to evade contractual obligations, and practically guides industry players in drafting robust contracts to ensure legal certainty and supply chain stability.
Keywords:
Contract Law Enforcement Officers Commercial RiskReferences
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