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.
|
|
Saturday, 10 August 13
MOODY'S: OUTLOOK FOR US COAL INDUSTRY CHANGES TO STABLE FROM NEGATIVE
Moody's Investors Service has changed its outlook for the US coal industry to stable from negative, the rating agency says in a new report, "U ...
Saturday, 10 August 13
DEMOLITION ACTIVITY TO BE CRUCIAL AGAIN IN PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE DRY BULK MARKET - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
We appear to have forgotten demolition activity this year, with the Baltic Dry Index gaining traction in the latter part of the second half and emer ...
Friday, 09 August 13
US PRODUCED 4.00 PERCENT LESS COAL ON WEEK
COALspot.com – United states the world’s second largest coal producer produced totaled approximately 20.00 million short tons (mmst) of ...
Thursday, 08 August 13
HANDY : NO POSITIVE SENTIMENT FOR THE FAR EAST MARKET - FEARNRESEARCH
Handy
No positive sentiment for the Far East market. There are a number of ships coming open in SE Asia this week and owners rating mid/high USD 8k ...
Thursday, 08 August 13
MALAYSIA HOSTS THIRD ANNUAL ASIAN SUB-BITUMINOUS COAL USERS' GROUP CONFERENCE
Press Release : The third Annual Asian Sub-Bituminous Coal Users’ Group (ASBCUG) conference convenes Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at the Eastern & Orie ...
|
|
|
Showing 4171 to 4175 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- PTC India Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- The University of Queensland
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Australian Coal Association
- White Energy Company Limited
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
|
| |
| |
|
