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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, 26 March 13
NEWCASTLE PORT SHIPPED 2.39 MMT OF COAL W/E 25 MARCH 2013
COALspot.com - Newcastle port in Australia has loaded 2.396 million tons of thermal and coking coal for week ended 0700 hours 25 March 2013, N ...
Monday, 25 March 13
BUNKER FUELS ARE ABOUT TO GET CLEANER, BUT AT WHAT COST? - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
The cost of bunkers is nowadays the driving force behind most ship owners' major decisions, with regulations bound to change in many parts of the w ...
Sunday, 24 March 13
THE SUB-BIT INDONESIA'S COAL SWAPS FOR Q2 DELIVERY PRICE LOST 7.47 PERCENT PMT M-O-M
COALspot.com - Sub-Bit Indonesia coal swaps (FOB ) for average Q2’ 2013 delivery has lost 3.39 percent and CFR South China coal shipment 2.65 ...
Sunday, 24 March 13
FREIGHT MARKETS CONTINUED TO FIRM - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - This freight market continued to remain firm in all segments except for cape index which softened slightly.
The BDI was up by 4.60 ...
Sunday, 24 March 13
DRY BULK MARKET PROSPECTS OFFER ROOM FOR RESTRAINED OPTIMISM SAYS SHIP OWNER - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
In its announcement regarding its annual performance, ship owner Frontline offered some useful insight on the future prospects of both the dry bulk ...
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- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- White Energy Company Limited
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- The University of Queensland
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
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