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.
|
|
Monday, 20 June 11
KPCL SETS ALL INDIA & POSSIBLY A WORLD RECORD FOR COAL DISCHARGING
COALspot.com - Krishnapatnam Port has set an all India record for discharging 95,528 tons of steam coal in just 24 hrs using the conventional unload ...
Monday, 20 June 11
5TH ASIA PACIFIC COAL TRADING & INVESTMENT OUTLOOK 2011 IS ON THE WAY
Press Release - Since the beginning of 2011, international commodity price has been in a high level, resulting in “TENSION” of energy co ...
Sunday, 19 June 11
S6 AND S7 ROUTES LIKELY TO BE SOFT NEXT WEEK - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - The freight market seemed to be stabilizing and the BDI and Cape index was up marginally and closed at 1,423 points and 1,824 points ...
Sunday, 19 June 11
BUMI 1Q NET PROFIT INCREASES 16.5 PERCENT
PT Bumi Resources Tbk (BUMI), Indonesia's largest coal exporter that is 25% owned by London-listed Vallar Plc, reported a16.49% increase in net pro ...
Friday, 17 June 11
DRY BULK BREATHES SIGH OF RELEAF ON RENEWED CAPESIZE DEMAND - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market has caught a sign of relief from the middle of the week onwards, as the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) increased once again yesterday, t ...
|
|
|
Showing 5221 to 5225 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- PTC India Limited - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- The University of Queensland
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Australian Coal Association
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Planning Commission, India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
|
| |
| |
|
