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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)
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Sunday, 10 July 11
PTBA INCREASES SHARES IN COAL TRAIN PROJECT - TEMPO INTERACTIVE
TEMPO Interactive reported that, PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) is still studying the plan to buy 20 percent of shares in the PT Bukit Asam T ...
Sunday, 10 July 11
DRY BULK MARKET SHOWING SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
Stronger Capesize demand has helped propel the dry bulk market forward this week, with the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) ending yesterday’s session u ...
Sunday, 10 July 11
INDONESIAN BAYAN RESOURCES TO SUPPLY 100 MILLION TONS OF COAL TO INDIAN UNIVERSAL SUCCESS ENTERPRISES LIMITED
Coal miner PT Bayan Resources Tbk (BYAN), that is owned by Dato' Low Tuck Kwong, has entered into a conditional sales and purchase agreement to sup ...
Thursday, 07 July 11
BELOW 5100 COAL WILL BE BANNED FOR EXPORT BY 12 JANUARY 2014
COALspot.com - Indonesian government is in the process of drafting an amendment for government regulation 23/ 2010.
GR 23/2010 has issued to sup ...
Wednesday, 06 July 11
ATLAS RESOURCES TO OFFLOAD 17 PERCENT IPO - INSIDER STORIES
Coking and thermal coal miner PT Atlas Energi Resources aims to offload 17percent new shares of its enlarged capital after Eid-Fitri holidays, as qu ...
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- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- PTC India Limited - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- The University of Queensland
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- White Energy Company Limited
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
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