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, 04 August 14
Q1' 15 API 8 CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL SWAP CLOSED AT US$ 69.37 ON 1 AUGUST 2014; A $ 1.10 HIGHER COMPARED TO Q4' 2014 CLOSING
COALspot.com: Coal swap prices are showing a positive move upward this past week. API 8 CFR South China Coal swap for Q4, Q1 and Q2 2015 show ...
Sunday, 03 August 14
LACK OF COAL SHIPMENTS FROM FAR EAST/SE ASIA, THE PRESSURE ON CHARTER RATES CONTINUED THIS WEEK
COALspot.com: This week, the freight rates were almost flat as charter rates were also almost steady from last week.
The BDI was up by 2.59 pc ...
Friday, 01 August 14
UNCERTAINTY IN ASIAN COAL MARKETS WHERE INDEX-LINKED PRICING DOMINATES - SGX
COALspot.com: In the past 3 years, seaborne thermal coal markets have been in a state of constant oversupply.
Reuters expects this oversupply ...
Friday, 01 August 14
U.S PRODUCED 19.4 MMST OF COAL IN A WEEK, SAYS EIA
COALspot.com – United States the world's second largest coal producer, produced approximately 19.40 million short tons (mmst) of coal in ...
Thursday, 31 July 14
CAPESIZE: CARGO VOLUMES, COAL IN PARTICULAR, PRESENTLY NOT SUFFICIENT TO EMPLOY A GROWING FLEET - FERNLEYS
Handy
Both the Atlantic and Pacific has improved in the supramax segment over the last week, said Fernleys in Its latest weekly report . There we ...
|
|
|
Showing 3566 to 3570 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Planning Commission, India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Australian Coal Association
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- The University of Queensland
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
|
| |
| |
|
