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.
|
|
Friday, 24 December 10
DRY BULK OWNERS COULD SOON RECONSIDER SCRAPPING OLDER VESSELS - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
With the dry bulk market close to its lowest levels in months and indeed close to 2010 lows, ship owners could be heading towards scrapyards in a bi ...
Thursday, 23 December 10
SOUTHGOBI RESOURCES CLOSES STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN ASPIRE MINING LIMITED
Press Release – SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX: SGQ, HK: 1878), announced today that it has completed the private placement with Aspire Mining ...
Thursday, 23 December 10
CESC EYES COAL MINES IN INDONESIA, S AFRICA - TEHELKA
Company has already set a target of adding 6,000 MW power generation by the end of the 12th Plan in 2017
Tehelka reported that, CESC Ltd, the fla ...
Thursday, 23 December 10
SANTA CLAUSE DID NOT COME EARLY THIS YEAR - FEARNBULK
Handy
Not much fresh enquiry this week and quite dead in Bl.Sea/Med. Nevertheless ...
Thursday, 23 December 10
STERLITE ENERGY LIMITED TO BUY 0.6 MLN MT OF COAL FOR 2011
COALspot.com - Sterlite Energy Limited (SEL) is a part of Vedanta Resources plc , a London listed FTSE 100 diversified metals and mining major with ...
|
|
|
Showing 5471 to 5475 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- White Energy Company Limited
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- PTC India Limited - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Australian Coal Association
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
|
| |
| |
|
