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, 06 September 10
DRY BULK MARKET GAINS 6.05% ON WEEK, BOOSTED BY CAPESIZE VESSELS
The dry bulk market is looking to capitalize last week’s gains of more than 6 percent in this week, as the capesize segment seems to be on a h ...
Sunday, 05 September 10
HARUM ENERGY EYES 7.4 MILION TONS OF COAL OUTPUT IN 2010
Indonesia's coal miner PT Harum Energy Tbk, controlled by Indonesian tycoon Kiki Barki, is eyeing 7.4 million tons of coal production in 2010, a 27 ...
Sunday, 05 September 10
THE FREIGHT MARKET WAS BIT VOLATILE WITH NO CLEAR INDICATION OF THE MARKET - CAPT REDDY
COALsopot.com: The freight market was bit volatile with no clear indication of the market.
However the BDI continued the upward trend mainly due ...
Sunday, 05 September 10
NOROCHCHOLAI POWER PLANT TO BE COMMISSIONED ON JANUARY 1
Daily news reported that, the Norochcholai coal power plant will be commissioned on January 1, 2011 adding 300 megawatts to the national power grid ...
Friday, 03 September 10
BANPU CUTS INDONESIAN HOLDING BUT ITM REMAINS KEY STRATEGIC UNIT - BANGKOK POST
"SET-listed Banpu Plc, Asean's largest coal miner, yesterday announced the sale of an 8.72% stake in its listed coalmining holding company in ...
|
|
|
Showing 5626 to 5630 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- VISA Power Limited - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- White Energy Company Limited
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- The University of Queensland
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
|
| |
| |
|
