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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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Friday, 25 October 13
U.S. YEAR-TO-DATE COAL PRODUCTION REACHED TOTALLED 803.1 MMST
COALspot.com – United States the world’s second largest coal producer produced approximately 19.10 million short tons (mmst) of coal in ...
Thursday, 24 October 13
PANAMAX: RATES SLIP ACROSS BOTH HEMISPHERES
Handy
We were back from holidays but still not much enquiries in the market. Overall future direction is uncertain. Currently, ships passing Singap ...
Thursday, 24 October 13
SHIP PRICES ARE INCREASING ON THE BACK OF IMPROVED MARKET SENTIMENT - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
The dry bulk market has kept on retreating from its recent highs, ending yesterday at 1,786 points, down 61 points on the day, with Capesizes leadin ...
Wednesday, 23 October 13
DRY BULK MARKET HAS SHOWN SIGNS OF STABILITY - INTERMODAL
Chartering (Wet: Stable+ / Dry: Stable-)
The Dry Bulk market has shown signs of stability this past week, with the sole exception of Capes, rates f ...
Wednesday, 23 October 13
MARKET SENTIMENT IN THE DRY BULK SECTOR REMAINS POSITIVE - YANNIS OLZIERSKY
Market sentiment in the dry bulk sector remains positive despite the latest correction in freight rates for the Capesize sector, which are sliding f ...
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- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Parliament of New Zealand
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Planning Commission, India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- White Energy Company Limited
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- PTC India Limited - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- The University of Queensland
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- VISA Power Limited - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
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