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, 20 July 10
CHURCHILL PLANNING TO PRODUCE 35 MILLION TONNES PER ANNUM FROM ITS EAST KUTAI COAL PROJECT
According to Churchill's website, the East Kutai Coal Project is a world-class thermal coal deposit, with a JORC Mining Reserve of 961 milli ...
Tuesday, 20 July 10
DRY BULK SHIPPING MARKET FINDING SOME SUPPORT, AS OWNERS TAKE CAPE SIZES OFF THE MARKET
With the Baltic Dry Index finally having reached bottom, at least according to market analysts, the dry bulk industry is looking to begin its long r ...
Monday, 19 July 10
INDONESIA EXPORTS 24.49 MILLION TONNES OF COAL IN JUNE 2010
COALspot.com: Indonesia, the world largest coal exporter, exported 141.249 million tons of coal in the first half of this year. In June 2010, Indone ...
Monday, 19 July 10
CHINA ONCE AGAIN DOMINATING SHIPPING FREIGHT RATES, WHILE OVERSUPPLY OF TONNAGE RAISES CONCERN
The ending of the week brought a cheerful note among dry bulk ship owners, as the sinking benchmark of the industry, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) fina ...
Saturday, 17 July 10
THE DRY BULK MARKET CONTINUED THE DOWNWARD TREND - VISTAAR
COALspot.com: The indices continued the downward trend this week also with BDI at 1,720 points and cape size index at 1676 points and the charter ra ...
|
|
|
Showing 5716 to 5720 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Australian Coal Association
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- PTC India Limited - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- The University of Queensland
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Planning Commission, India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
|
| |
| |
|
