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, 26 January 15
API 8 CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL SWAP CONTINUE TO SLIDE M-O-M; ROSE W-O-W
COALspot.com: API 8 CFR South China Coal swap for Q1’ 2015 delivery declined US$ 0.79 (-1.33%) per MT month over month and gained US$ 2.10&nb ...
Sunday, 25 January 15
PANAMAX FREIGHT RATES STILL FALLING
COALspot.com: The BDI was slightly down this week to 720 points. The BDI lost 2.83 pct week on week.
The cape index continued its upward trend ...
Friday, 23 January 15
U.S. WEEKLY COAL PRODUCTION FOR WEEK ENDING JAN. 17 UP 2.5%
COALspot.com – United States the world's one of the largest coal producers, produced approximately 19.4 million short tons (mmst) of coal ...
Thursday, 22 January 15
PANAMAX: A SOFTER TONE AND OVERALL A SLUGGISH MARKET - FEARNLEYS
Handy
The handy and supra market has experienced yet another week with slow activity and softening rates in both hemispheres, broker Fearnleys AS ...
Thursday, 22 January 15
BUMI RESOURCES POSTS NET INCOME OF $13.3 MILLION 9M-2014
COALspot.com: Bumi Resources, Indonesia’s largest coal miner, reported today that, the company has recorded a net income of $13.3 million for ...
|
|
|
Showing 3236 to 3240 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Australian Coal Association
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- MS Steel International - UAE
- The University of Queensland
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
|
| |
| |
|
