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, 14 June 10
S. AFRICA BOOSTS COAL SALES TO INDIA 12%, TRADER SAYS
Bloomberg reported that, South Africa’s Richards Bay, the world’s second-biggest coal export harbor, boosted sales to India by 12 percen ...
Sunday, 13 June 10
THE FUTURES FOR THREE YEARS (2010-2012) WAS AT AROUND CAPE/US$ 29000 PER DAY & PANAMAX/US$ 20500 PER DAY - VISTAAR
COALspot.com: The market continue to soften in all sectors and the most affected was cape size which was down by 16.32 pct. The BDI was down by 14.4 ...
Saturday, 12 June 10
BALTIC EXCHANGE ESTABLISHES ASIA-PACIFIC OFFICE
The London-based Baltic Exchange has today announced it is setting up an Asia-Pacific Representative Office in Singapore, to ensure closer contact w ...
Saturday, 12 June 10
NALCO TO ROPE IN PARTNERS FOR INDONESIA PROJECT
Sify reported that, the public sector National Aluminium Company (Nalco) is set to finalise the terms of its joint venture (JV) agreement with two f ...
Thursday, 10 June 10
CHARTERERS ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY THE RATES AS MARKET SLIDES
DRY BULK
Handy
Atlantic markets are quieter (Posidonia?) with less activity. Nevertheless expect some fresh enquiries f ...
|
|
|
Showing 5781 to 5785 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- The University of Queensland
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- MS Steel International - UAE
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Australian Coal Association
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Planning Commission, India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
|
| |
| |
|
