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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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Monday, 28 January 13
BAYAN RESOURCES TO SELL 18 MILLION TONS OF COAL TO GNPOWER MARIVELES COAL PLANT
Publicly-listed PT Bayan Resources announced on Friday that it had signed an agreement on coal sales with Philippine-based GNPower Mariveles Coal Pl ...
Sunday, 27 January 13
CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL SWAPS: WEAK
COALspot.com - Sub-Bit Indonesia coal swaps (FOB ) for average Q1’ 2013 delivery has gained 0.31 percent and CFR South China coal shipment&nbs ...
Sunday, 27 January 13
FREIGHT MARKET: FLAT TO SOFT - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - The freight market was soft and all the indices were down except for handy size.
The BDI was down 4.66 pct closing at 798 points.. ...
Friday, 25 January 13
BOTSWANA GOVERNMENT GRANTS COAL LICENSES TO A-CAP RESOURCES LIMITED
A-Cap Resources Limited has announced that it has been granted coal rights within its Bolau tenements which sit next to the Sese Coal and Power Proj ...
Friday, 25 January 13
SMALL ROOM FOR OPTIMISM FOR THE PROSPECTS OF THE DRY BULK MARKET AS NET FLEET GROWTH IS SLOWING DOWN - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
Despite the fact that the dry bulk market didn't manage to post a rebound during the past year, quite the opposite, as a fast fleet growth and slow ...
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- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- The University of Queensland
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Australian Coal Association
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Economic Council, Georgia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
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