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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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Wednesday, 26 December 12
SHIP OWNERS WRAP UP NEWBUILDING DEALS PRIOR TO YEAR END - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
As the year inches closer and closer to its end, many ship owners are looking to close deals for newbuilding vessels they have been negotiating duri ...
Monday, 24 December 12
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DECISION MAY FURTHER DELAY THE ISSUANCE OF NEW MINING BUSINESS LICENCES - TJEN SHE SIUNG
COALspot.com - In November 2012 the Constitutional Court of Indonesia issued a decision on amendments to certain provisions under the Mining Law No. ...
Monday, 24 December 12
BUNKER PRICES TO CONTINUE RISING, ALBEIT IN A SLOWER MODE, DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEW
In a recent report, US-based consulting firm Mcquilling Services attempted to forecast the course of bunker prices during the next few years, as thi ...
Sunday, 23 December 12
Q4' 2013 CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL SWAP, US$ 3.40 HIGHER COMPARED TO Q1' 2013 PRICE
COALspot.com - Sub-Bit Indonesia coal swaps (FOB ) for average Q1’ 2013 delivery gained 1.94 percent M-M and WoW by 1.57percent but lost 0.35 ...
Saturday, 22 December 12
SECOND HAND VESSELS ENJOY HIGH DEMAND AS PRICES ARE ATTRACTIVE - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
Despite the fact that the year is closing to its end, activity in the second hand vessel market has been more than high. Ship owners are looking to ...
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- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Planning Commission, India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- White Energy Company Limited
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- The University of Queensland
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Australian Coal Association
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- PTC India Limited - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
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