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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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Tuesday, 19 November 13
SHIP OWNER POUR MORE MONEY INTO DRY BULK CARRIER ACQUISITIONS - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
The recent dry bulk market's rally, coupled with an expected fall in oversupply and robust cargo demand has boosted ship owners' optimism on the l ...
Monday, 18 November 13
SUB-BIT INDONESIA COAL SWAP LOST ON WEEK; MARGINALLY GAINED ON DAY
COALspot.com – Sub-Bit Indonesia coal swap (FOB ) for average Q1’ 14 delivery gained $ 1.25 pmt month on month on Friday 15 Novemb ...
Sunday, 17 November 13
Q4' 14 API 8 CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL SWAP CLOSED $ 3.43 PMT (4.34 %) HIGHER THAN Q1' 14 SWAP
COALspot.com : API 8 CFR South China Coal swaps for average Q1’ 14 delivery gained 0.05 percept d-d on Friday 15 November 2013. The CFR South ...
Saturday, 16 November 13
INDONESIA TO INDIA SUPRAMAX FREIGHT RATES FIRM DUE TO STRONG COAL ACTIVITIES
COALspot.com: The Cape and Panamax index was down this week and pulling down the BDI by about 5 pct. BDI was closed at 1507 points on Friday 1 ...
Friday, 15 November 13
DRY BULK MARKET STILL LINGERING ON, DESPITE PREDICTIONS OF NEW IMMINENT RALLY PRIOR TO THE YEAR'S END - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
The dry bulk market hasn't yet managed to stage a new comeback after its retreat from the recent multiyear highs. Yesterday, the industry's benchm ...
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- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Australian Coal Association
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Minerals Council of Australia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- MS Steel International - UAE
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Planning Commission, India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- White Energy Company Limited
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
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