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, 24 May 10
PAMA TO CLOSE COALS ACQUISITION IN 2010
Insider Stories reported that, Indonesia's largest coal mining contractor PT Pamapersada Nusantara, subsidiary of PT United Tractors Tbk (UNTR), wi ...
Sunday, 23 May 10
SINGARENI LEVIES PREMIUM TO BALANCE COAL DEMAND - BUSINESS STANDARD
Business-Standard reported that, In view of the rising demand for coal, Singareni Collieries Company Limited has recently levied a premium on c ...
Saturday, 22 May 10
THE BRENT CRUDE PRICES WAS SHARPLY DOWN AT US$ 71.72 PER BARREL - VISTAAR SHIPPING
COALspot.com: The freight market was under pressure with the caps size index down by 10 pct with uncertainty in Europe crisis continuing.
The BD ...
Saturday, 22 May 10
PORT CONGESTION IN AUSTRALIA HELPING RATES CHINA COAL IMPORT BOOM TO CUSHION FREIGHT RATES
China's record coal imports this year will provide some support to freight rates but growing pressure from fleet oversupply is set to limit gains. ...
Saturday, 22 May 10
INDUSTRY QUESTIONS STEAM COAL PRICE ANOMALY
Five South Korean utilities have secured a deal for 3.13 million tonnes of Australian thermal coal with a calorific value of 6,080kcal/kg for delive ...
|
|
|
Showing 5821 to 5825 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- The University of Queensland
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Australian Coal Association
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
|
| |
| |
|
