We welcome article submissions from experts in the areas of coal, mining,
shipping, etc.
To Submit your article please click here.
|
|
|
Sunday, 20 June 10
OUR COAL: ITS DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
 Indonesia’s production of coal has been growing amazingly. In the mid 1980s, national coal production was less than 1 million tons per annum, whereas energy planners (in the fourth Five Year Development Plan: 1989-1994) pointed at 10 million tons as the national production target.
The current production has jumped dramatically, recorded as 237 million tons in 2008 (predicted to achieve 270 million tons this year), making Indonesia a world class producer and the largest exporter of coal around the globe. The skyrocketing growth of our coal production has also incited many controversial issues.
Coal is considered as the dirtiest among fossil fuels, making environmentalists oppose their wide use
as fuel.
However, the proposal for ceasing use of coal — power generation, for instance — would be challenged by power utilities demanding low cost fuel that coal may offer and by the government, which has the responsibility to provide electricity as well as have revenue from exploiting its energy resources.
Despite the world’s rising anxiety of global warming, IEA (International Energy Agency: World Energy Outlook 2009) statistics shows that the world consumption for coal, for the last decade, is still growing the fastest among primary energy sources.
The environmental problem associated with coal in Indonesia is not limited to green houses gases (GHG), but also damage and pollution since its exploitation, transportation and uses to post mining.
It is easy to find where many coal fields are not mined appropriately according to “good mining and environmental practices”, coal transportation is not considering safety standards and is damaging rivers, (public) roads and seashores.
The coal mining has polluted the land, water and air of especially Kalimantan, where more than 90 percent of Indonesia’s coal mining operations take place.
It is sad that many of the previous mining areas have been abandoned without being properly reclaimed, whereas thousands of hectares of the island’s tropical forests have been converted into desert.
The soaring exploitation, including its negative impact on the environment, has a strong correlation with the number of licensing/permits awarded.
The introduction of the 1999 Regional Autonomy Law, subsequently followed by the 1999 Fiscal Balancing Law between the Central and Regional Governments have — to some degree — impacted on the coal licensing regime, where larger authorities had been given to regional/local governments.
Under the new licensing regime by local governments, requirements for coal permits tend to be relaxed whereas monitoring has not been done properly.
As a result, the number of permits (Mining Authorization/KP) has been growing considerably (currently 462, of which 169 are producing), coal production increases, but also environmental problems and the issues of illegal mining exist.
The question of who really owns the KP licenses exists, which was defined as that it can be owned by Indonesian national/companies only.
While the largest part of coal in Indonesia are being produced by large companies (the holders of Coal Contract of Work/PKP2B), some coal is mined by small scale and illegal miners.
It is believed that a significant amount of coal has been produced by illegal miners (some 5 million tons annually) and part has gone to meet export demand.
Wherever in the world, illegal miners lack interest in responsible mining and mine rehabilitation practices. Illegal mining is a problem for potential investors, the environment and government revenues.
The government has introduced measures to crack down on problems, including arresting illegal miners.
However, it cannot be the only solution since illegal mining is actually rooted in underemployment, local poverty and weak law enforcement, while the number of people involved in these activities is quite significant.
An alternative to confrontation to illegal miners by the central government (who awards the large scale PKP2B mining license) should be a cooperative and more comprehensive approach.
“Despite the world’s anxiety of global warming, IEA statistics shows that the world consumption for coal is still growing the fastest among primary energy sources.”
Work together with local/rural governments and communities to reduce poverty, educate/assist the illegal miners to increase their awareness on good mining practices (including mine rehabilitation), provide transition period fiscal incentives to encourage illegal mining toward the regulated mining sector, among others.
It needs to maintain an appropriate balance between the soaring exports of coal (about three quarters of production on average) and the domestic growing demand for the same fuel.
Push for exports is still coming largely from the traditional East Asians (Japan is the largest), while the coal-hungry India and China are also increasing their demand for our coal.
The exports will be competed with by the Blue Print for Energy Management 2005-2025 pointing out that one third of Indonesia’s energy primary energy mix in 2025 is to be supplied by coal, (the current share is about 15 percent).
Even though it is often mentioned that our coal reserves are quite large (current proven reserves of 5.5 billion tons; estimated resources of 105 tones) and that our reserves for coal are much larger than that of oil and gas, we should watch their fast rate of exploitation cautiously.
It needs to recalculate the benefit of exploiting them, taking into account their damage to the environment and what is left post mining. Where have all the revenues from exploiting that coal gone? Is the escalating export not jeopardizing the domestic energy security in the near future?
We have ample experiences, for instance in exploiting the resources-rich Kalimantan. The forests, oil and gas reserves have been exploited for about four to five decades, but it seems that the island has not enjoyed the fruits of the excessive exploitation: the current regional economy remains weak, infrastructure is poor and energy supplies for local uses have not been secured.
It needs to promote the terms “resources balance, depletion, sustainability”, start internalizing the costs of environmental impact and enforce those concepts into workable policies for our coal mining development.
The writer is the senior energy planner and an economist with the National Development Planning Agency. The opinions expressed are his own.
Source: The Jakarta Post ( Hanan Nugroho)
If you believe an article violates your rights or the rights of others, please contact us.
|
|
Tuesday, 01 November 11
ATLAS RESOURCES SETS IPO AT RP1,500 - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, coal miner PT Atlas Resources Tbk has set its initial public offering (IPO) at Rp1,500 (approximately US$ 0.169) per ...
Tuesday, 01 November 11
DRY BULK MARKETS CORRECTION SPILLS OVER ONTO NEW WEEK - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market is losing steam, as evidenced by the falls experienced last week, which were also apparent at the beginning of the new week. A l ...
Monday, 31 October 11
CHINAS HUNGER FOR INDONESIAN COAL AT THREE YEAR-HIGH AS WINTER NEARS - JOSEPH KIRSCHKE
COALspot.com - Chinese demand for power-station coal from Indonesia has soared to its highest level in three years, as central heating plants and po ...
Saturday, 29 October 11
ATLAS RESOURCES SEALS US$95 MIO LOAN - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, coal producer PT Atlas Resources Tbk, that is controlled by Indonesian businessman Andre Abdi, has secured US$95 mill ...
Saturday, 29 October 11
INDONESIA TO INDIA FREIGHT LIKELY TO REMAIN SOFT
COALspot.com - The market continued to slow down and all segment were down this week.
The biggest drop was in the Cape Index down by 8.19 pct&nbs ...
|
|
|
Showing 5001 to 5005 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Australian Coal Association
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- The University of Queensland
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
|
| |
| |
|
