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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, 03 January 13
DRY BULK DEMAND TO KEEP RISING IN 2013, DRY BULK SHIP PRICES TO KEEP FALLING SAYS ANALYST - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
In a recent report on the future of the shipping markets, DVB bank said that dry bulk demand is expected to keep on growing in the coming years, mai ...
Wednesday, 02 January 13
NEWCASTLE PORT SHIPPED 23.61 PERCENT MORE COAL W-W
COALspot.com - Newcastle port in Australia has loaded 3,533,183 MT of thermal and coking coal for week ended 0700 hours 31 December 2012, Newc ...
Wednesday, 02 January 13
DRY BULK MARKET TO STAY ELEVATED IN START OF 2013 BUT THE NEW YEAR WILL NOT BE WITHOUT TURBULENCE - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
In its regular update on the dry bulk market, BIMCO forecasted, that Capesize time-charter rates are expected to stay elevated in the following six ...
Monday, 31 December 12
KOSEP IS LOOKING FOR 280K MT OF 4600 NCV COAL FOR APRIL - JUNE 2013
COALspot.com : South Korean state-owned utility Korea South-East Power Co., Ltd. (KOSEP), has issued an new tender for prompt supply of 280,00 ...
Monday, 31 December 12
VALE CELEBRATES ARRIVAL OF "VALE SOHAR" BULK CARRIER TO SULTANATE WITH MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY
'Vale Sohar', one of the largest bulk carriers in the world, was welcomed to Oman by members of the North Al Batinah community headed by H.E. Shei ...
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- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- The University of Queensland
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Planning Commission, India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
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