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.
|
|
Thursday, 13 December 12
HANDY : WCI-CHINA RATES AROUND $ 6000 AND ECI-CHINA AROUND $ 4000 - FEARNLEYS
Handy
Atlantic market remained unchanged. Rates from USG to Feast were around USD 18k and Black Sea to Feast about USD 10k. USG-Skaw-Passero rates ...
Wednesday, 12 December 12
69.23 PERCENT OF END-USERS ARE BELIEVE, COAL PRICES ARE IN UPWARD TREND
COALspot.com - The Indonesian government’s declared coal reference price for December’ 12 has gained US cents 31 per MT M-o- ...
Wednesday, 12 December 12
CAPESIZE FREIGHT RATES TO RANGE BETWEEN $9,000 - 16,000/DAY IN THE COMING WEEKS SAYS BIMCO - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
In its regular update on the dry bulk market, BIMCO forecasted yesterday, that Capesize time-charter rates are expected to stay elevated in the foll ...
Tuesday, 11 December 12
NEWCASTLE PORT IN AUSTRALIA HAS LOADED 2,720,205 MT OF COAL W/E 10 DECEMBER 2012
COALspot.com - Newcastle port in Australia has loaded 2,720,205 MT of thermal and coking coal for week ended 0700 hours 10 December 2012, Newc ...
Sunday, 09 December 12
COAL SWAPS HAVE LOST DIRECTION DUE TO LACK OF ASIAN INTEREST
COALspot.com - Sub-Bit Indonesia coal swaps (FOB ) for average Q1’ 2013 delivery gained 2.43 percent M-M but lost WoW by 0.54 percent and 0.62 ...
|
|
|
Showing 4466 to 4470 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- White Energy Company Limited
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- The University of Queensland
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- PTC India Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
|
| |
| |
|
