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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, 11 January 12
NEWBUILDING ORDERS DECLINE, AS SHIP OWNERS REALIZE OVERSUPPLY WILL "KILL" THEM - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
With 2012 now underway, it will be rather interesting to see how ship owners will play the "newbuilding ordering" card to their favor, as ...
Tuesday, 10 January 12
THE 4TH DEEPWATER ASIA CONGRESS 2012 WILL KICK OFF ON MAY 23 - 25
Press release - Based on the past three years’ success, SZ & W Group is excited to announce the 4th Deepwater Asia Congress will be held o ...
Monday, 09 January 12
2012: WHAT WILL IT BRING FOR THE DRY BULK MARKET? - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
A further increase in dry bulk demand could be the remedy for most of the industry's oversupply issues, together of course with the high level of s ...
Sunday, 08 January 12
ICICI OUTLOOK ON INDIAN POWER, MINING,CEMENT, AND SHIPPING SECTORS PERFORMANCE IN 2012
Broking firm, ICICIdirect (India) has come out with report on sectors outlook for 2012. IRIS has collated key highlights for each sector from ...
Sunday, 08 January 12
SUPRAMAX DELIVERY SOUTH CHINA FOR TRIPS VIA INDONESIA WERE REPORTED AROUND $ 7000 PER DAY - VISTAAR
Wish You a Very Happy and Prosperous New year 2012.
COALspot.com - The last report by us was on 16th Dec 2011 and because of holidays this would ...
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- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Australian Coal Association
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- VISA Power Limited - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- The University of Queensland
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Minerals Council of Australia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- White Energy Company Limited
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- PTC India Limited - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
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