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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)
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Saturday, 08 May 10
THE FUTURES FOR THREE YEARS (2010-2012) WAS AT AROUND PANAMAX / $ 21500 & SUPRAMAX / $ 18500 PER DAY - VISTAAR SHIPPING
COALspot.com: The BDI continued to go up and was up by 7.57 pct even though the stock markets was severely affected with worries on Greek debt crisi ...
Saturday, 08 May 10
MAHAGENCO TO IMPORT 3.35 MILLION TON OF COAL
COALspot.com: Indian utility Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd. is in market for 3.35 million tones of imported coal. The purchase of coal ...
Saturday, 08 May 10
NAPOCOR BUYS 122,000 TONS COAL - ABC CBN NEWS
ABC - CBN News reported that, State-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) said on Thursday it awarded 2 contracts for the supply of a total 122,000 ton ...
Saturday, 08 May 10
RICHARDS BAY COAL SHIPMENTS FALL TO AN 11-MONTH LOW - BLOOMBERG
Bloomberg reported that, Coal shipments from Richards Bay Coal Terminal, Africa’s biggest export facility for the fuel, fell to an 11-month lo ...
Tuesday, 04 May 10
APRIL 2010 COAL PRICE REFERENCE WAS US$ 86.58/T FOB VESSEL
COALspot.com: The directorate general of mineral, coal and geothermal of Indonesia has publishing a monthly coal price reference (HBA) to be used by ...
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- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- The University of Queensland
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- White Energy Company Limited
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Australian Coal Association
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Minerals Council of Australia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Planning Commission, India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
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