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.
|
|
Friday, 15 February 13
2ND ANNUAL INDONESIA MINING 2013 CONFERENCE
Bringing Indonesia's Mining Stakeholders Together Towards Improving Mining Investment Climate & Operations
Following the success of th ...
Friday, 15 February 13
SCRAPPING TO RISE AS BULKER OWNERS SUFFER - DREWRY MARITIME RESEARCH
Drewry's latest Dry Bulk Forecaster report suggests that cash-strapped shipowners will scrap younger and younger ships this year as the dry bulk ma ...
Thursday, 14 February 13
HANDY: ATLANTIC "STABLE"; PACIFIC "QUIET" - FEARNLEYS
Handy
The Atlantic remain stable with rates for FH from USG around USD 18k. The Pacific remains quiet due to Chinese New Year holidays. Rates were ...
Thursday, 14 February 13
BIMCO FORECASTS MOSTLY HIGHER DRY BULK RATES FOR THE COMING WEEKS - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
Higher steel demand is expected to keep dry bulk rates elevated during the next six weeks, according to the latest BIMCO forecast. The Organization ...
Wednesday, 13 February 13
6TH ANNUAL CBM CONFERENCE
The 6th Annual CBM conference which will be held in Singapore on 18-21 June 201 offers comprehensive insights into leading CBM projects in the Asia- ...
|
|
|
Showing 4381 to 4385 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- PTC India Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- The University of Queensland
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
|
| |
| |
|
