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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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Thursday, 30 May 13
HANDY: RBCT ROUND WAS AROUND USD 9K + 300 BB - FEARNRESEARCH
Handy
THE Atlantic market remained flat. The USG-Feast was at USD 19k and Black Sea-Feast was at USD 12k. The Pacific market remained quiet with no ...
Wednesday, 29 May 13
SHIP OWNERS KEEP ON SPENDING ON NEWBUILDINGS AS PRICES ARE DEEMED TOO LOW TO RESIST - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
It's been yet another week on increased newbuilding ordering activity with Hellenic ship owners appearing rathe active, on the back of attractive f ...
Tuesday, 28 May 13
NEWCASTLE PORT SHIPPED 9.76 PERCENT MORE COAL W/E 27 MAY 2013
COALspot.com - Newcastle port in Australia has loaded 2,420,366 tons of coal for week ended 0700 hours 27 May 2013, Newcastle Port Corp. said ...
Sunday, 26 May 13
AMPLE SUPPLY, LOW DEMAND KEEP COAL PRICES UNDER PRESSURE
COALspot.com - Sub-Bit Indonesia coal swaps (FOB ) for average July 2013 delivery have lost 0.07 percent and API 8 CFR South China Coal shipment los ...
Friday, 24 May 13
ENGAGEMENT WITH POTENTIAL STRATEGIC AND OFF TAKE PARTNERS ACCELERATING - REALM RESOURCES
COALspot.com - Following the recent completion of the Feasibility Study, the Realm Resources Ltd. (ASX: RRP) has focused on securing strategic ...
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- VISA Power Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- PTC India Limited - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- MS Steel International - UAE
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- The University of Queensland
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- White Energy Company Limited
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
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