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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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Sunday, 24 November 13
SUPRAMAX FREIGHT RATES REMAINED FIRM FROM INDONESIA TO INDIA AND CHINA - SOLYM
COALspot.com: The freight market was fairly steady except for the Supramax in SE Asia region which continued to remain firm. The BDI was down by 1.5 ...
Friday, 22 November 13
DRY BULK MARKET STILL LACKLUSTRE, DESPITE PROJECTIONS OF A NEW RALLY - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
We might still be about six weeks far from the end of the year, but the projected by many analysts upcoming rally of the dry bulk market, hasn't ye ...
Friday, 22 November 13
US COAL PRODUCTION DOWN 1.3% W-W
COALspot.com – United States the world’s second largest coal producer, produced approximately 19.5 million short tons (mmst) of coal in ...
Thursday, 21 November 13
TAIPOWER TO PROCURE 750K MT OF 5500 GAR BITUMINOUS COAL FOR MAY - AUGUST 2014
COALspot.com: Taiwan Power Company intends to procure 750,000 metric tons of bituminous coal with calorific value not lesser than 5,500 kcal/kg on a ...
Thursday, 21 November 13
CAPESIZE : THE DOWNWARD TREND HAS TURNED INTO NOTABLE SPOT AND PERIOD IMPROVEMENT - FEARNLEYS
Handy
The Atlantic market experienced a general rate increase for most trades this week. More cargoes in the market and chrts looking for prompt t ...
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- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Australian Coal Association
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- The University of Queensland
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- PTC India Limited - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
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