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.
|
|
Monday, 16 January 12
BUMA MINED 2.7 MILLION TONS COAL LAST MONTH
COALspot.com - BUMA has mined 2.7 million tons (-14.1% YoY) coal last month and removed 25.8 million bcm (-5.6% YoY) overburden, according to compan ...
Sunday, 15 January 12
THE FREIGHT MARKET CONTINUED TO BLEED - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - "The markets continued to bleed with BDI touching almost 1000 points , almost reaching the collapse of 2008 levels," said C ...
Saturday, 14 January 12
GOLDEN MINES TO SUPPLY 4 MIO TONS - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, Coal miner under Sinarmas Group PT Golden Energy Mines Tbk (GEMS), a subsidiary of PT Dian Swastatika Sentosa Tbk (DS ...
Friday, 13 January 12
DIFFICULT START OF 2012 FOR DRY BULK MARKET SEEN HARD TO CHANGE IN THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, UNLESS DEMOLITION PICKS UP
The dry bulk market has been on a freefall this week after a rocky start to the new year. Yesterday, the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) the industry's benc ...
Thursday, 12 January 12
DRY BULK MARKET CRASHING AT START OF THE YEAR - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market has kept being on freefall mode yesterday, with the industry's benchmark, the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) losing a massive 5.17% on ...
|
|
|
Showing 4886 to 4890 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Australian Coal Association
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
|
| |
| |
|
