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.
|
|
Tuesday, 24 January 12
BUKIT ASAM FY11 NET PROFIT SURGES 50% - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, the state-controlled PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) estimated to book Rp3 trillion (approximately US$ 335,570,469) net prof ...
Sunday, 22 January 12
FREIGHT MARKET DROPPED TO THE LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 2008
COALspot.com - "The markets continued to soften almost reaching 2008 levels breaking the 1,000 point mark", said Capt. Reddy of Vistaar Sh ...
Saturday, 21 January 12
ASIAS PREMIER COMPREHENSIVE OPEN CUT MINING CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 2012
As the only such conference in the region for miners and service providers, IBC Asia’s Open Cut Mine Planning & Operational Excellence con ...
Saturday, 21 January 12
COAL MARKETS CELEBRATES A DECADE OF BRINGING BUYERS & SELLERS TOGETHER
In 2012, IBC Asia’s premier Coal Markets conference series – Asia’s only globally focused coal import, export and supply chain eve ...
Saturday, 21 January 12
SAMIN TAN COMPLETES BUMI PLC TAKEOVER - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, Indonesian coking coal miner PT Borneo Lumbung Energi & Metal Tbk (BORN), that is controlled by stellar businessm ...
|
|
|
Showing 4876 to 4880 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- The University of Queensland
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Australian Coal Association
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
|
| |
| |
|
