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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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Monday, 14 July 14
SGX CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL SWAP FOR Q3' 14 LOST 17.29% SINCE EARLY JANUARY 2014
COALspot.com: Coal price falling is continues as the impact oversupply and lower demand. API 8 CFR South China Coal swap for delivery in Q3 drops U ...
Sunday, 13 July 14
PANAMAX INDEX GAINS SLIGHTLY THIS WEEK; CAPE INDEX FALLS ALMOST 21.40%
COALspot.com: This week the freight market fell again after gaining last week. The cape index was down almost 21.40 pct and closed at 1465 points.
...
Friday, 11 July 14
EUROPE HAS A SUBSTANTIAL SURPLUS IN COAL SUPPLIES; RENEWABLE ENERGIES ARE REDUCING THE FULL-LOAD OPERATING HOURS OF HARD COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS - VDKI
COALspot.com: General conditions for coal-fired power plants must be improved if the energy turnaround is to be a success, said German coal importe ...
Friday, 11 July 14
DR.CIESLIK RE-ELECTED AS CEO OF GERMAN COAL IMPORTER ASSOCIATION (VDKI)
Press Release : Dr Cieslik re-elected as CEO of German Coal Importer Association (VDKi) for the period 2014 – 2018. The German Coal Importer ...
Friday, 11 July 14
PORT OF NEWCASTLE SHIPPED $ 1.031 BILLION WORTH OF 11.744 MILLION TONS OF COAL IN JUNE 2014
COALspot.com: Port of Newcastle has shipped 11,744,396 tons of coal for the month ended 30 June 2014. According to Port’s monthly report, YTD ...
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- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- The University of Queensland
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Australian Coal Association
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
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