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Friday, 23 December 11
CONTENTIOUS ISSUES IN CONTRACT RENEGOTIATION - THE JAKARTA POST
The government has been renegotiating mining contracts, especially those 30-40 years old, with almost all mining companies, including PT Freeport Indonesia, which has been operating since 1967. This is a major step the government is taking and of course will affect the climate of mining investment in the future. If not carefully planned and executed, renegotiation might severely harm the prospects of the national mining industry.
That is why it is important for the government to choose the most important points to be brought to the negotiating table and to ensure that the results are beneficial to both sides, i.e., the mining enterprises and the government.
The basis for renegotiation is Law No. 4 /2009 on mining, which has changed the mining-concession regime by introducing a new licensing system. The law replaces mining authorizations (Kuasa Pertambangan or KP) as well as contracts of work (CoWs) and contracts of coal mining work (CCoW or PKP2B). The government acknowledges all CoWs/CCoWs that have been awarded before the law was promulgated; however all CoWs/CCoWs still need to be renegotiated.
The fundamental difference between the concession and licensing regimes lies in a number of points. Most important is the difference in the legal nature. While concession is based on civil law and the source of law is the agreement itself, licensing is public and legislation is the source of law. The application of a “concession” is the agreement between the two parties, the mining enterprises and the government, while a “license” is based on permission from the government.
In terms of rights and obligations, a licensing regime puts the government in a more dominant position. Settlement of disputes is through international arbitration for concession agreements but is via a state administrative court for licensing regimes.
These differences, of course, will be perceived differently by different mining enterprises. Large-scale mining companies and international enterprises prefer arbitration as a legal option, because arbitration is considered to be more fair and free from political intervention. Given that perception, the new regime is seen to generate potentially larger political risks.
Moreover, the bilateral nature of the contract system is believed to provide more protection against future changes in the law than a unilateral licensing system.
For small or national mining companies, however, licensing regimes might be seen to be friendlier as they provide equal opportunities to both domestic and foreign investors in applying for licenses.
Renegotiation is needed to adjust the content of contracts, which have been running since before the Mining Law came into being. These contracts need to be adapted to be in accordance with the new law. Renegotiation began in the fourth quarter of 2009 for CoWs and early 2010 for CCoWs.
Philosophically, however, renegotiation aims at restoring the country’s sovereignty over its natural resources as well as providing a better use of the resources for the people. This is reflected in a number of articles to adjust CoWs and CCoWs, to increase the added value for minerals and coal by imposing an obligation on contractors to establish downstream industrial facilities, to enhance state revenue through rate adjustments for royalties and production fees and to prioritize the use of local and national services.
Based on the notion of providing a better use of resources, a number of strategic issues are being brought to the negotiation table, such as the limitation of mining areas, contract extension, state revenue, divestment obligations for foreign investors that hold full-ownership in local mining firms, the obligation of processing and refining in the country’s smelters, as well as the obligations of the use of domestic goods and services.
As expected, the most prominent issue during the renegotiation is about the augmented state revenue — the first contentious issue. State revenue refers to mining taxes and profit-sharing schemes. The government is tightening tax regulations to enhance national revenue. This is the reason why the tax authority is involved in the renegotiation and assesses whether or not an enterprise is losing money.
Renegotiation on profit-sharing might not be necessary with those enterprises that are losing money. But the key point here is transparency — the enterprises must reveal their income — as the fundamental purpose of the renegotiation is for the results to be fair and transparent.
The limitation of mining areas is the second contentious issue. According to the law, all areas of work that exceed the maximum limit of 100,000 hectares (ha) for minerals and 50,000 ha for coal should be returned to the state. This has proven to be difficult, since most of the large mining enterprises have been working areas beyond this threshold. Freeport has a working area of up to 1.8 million ha, and Arutmin about 70,000 ha, and Inco about 180,000 ha.
The third contentious issue is extension of concession contracts. A concession contract is terminated when it expires. After that, the management must submit to the state, represented by state or local enterprises, a proposal to obtain a new mining license. Contract extension with the old contractor can be achieved only if the contractor is a minority shareholder.
These three issues are problems for both the government and the enterprises to resolve. Currently, there are about 113 plans to renegotiate mining contracts, of which 37 CoWs are in the mining of metals and minerals and 76 are contracts of coal mining work (CCoWs). The majority of the mining enterprises seem to be in the “Partially Agree” mode for CoWs and in the “Agree to All Amendment Articles” mode for CCoWS.
The results must be beneficial to both sides, promoting transparency and fairness. Mining has been contributing greatly to the country’s economy, as well as wealth to a number of mining enterprises. In 2010, mining accounted for about 11.15 percent of GDP for Indonesia overall, and a much higher percentage for provinces such as Papua, Bangka-Belitung, West Nusa Tenggara and East Kalimantan. Mining also accounted for 16.91 percent of Indonesian exports, providing Rp 9.7 trillion of government revenue.
But annual average mining investment is not growing as expected. Only in the coal sector has any large-scale new production capacity been developed in recent years. The vast majority of the investment is for the replacement of mining infrastructure to sustain capacity.
Given the long lead times to find and develop new mines, production declines will be inevitable unless the renegotiation can enhance transparency and the mining policy environment is improved.
We have to remember that the country has some of the most prospective geological areas and according to one international survey, only some areas of Canada and Australia have better mineral prospects. Thus, it is possible for mining to make a much larger economic contribution at the local, provincial and national levels.
The renegotiation process cannot be allowed to hinder this contribution. We have to avoid losing our competitiveness at a time when other countries are seeking new mining investment.
By: Montty Girianna
Source: The Jakarta Post
The writer is director for energy, mineral resources and mining at the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS).
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Monday, 05 December 11
SGX LAUNCHED IHS MCCLOSKEY/XINHUA INFOLINK OTC CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL CONTRACT TODAY
COALspot.com - In order to meet the demand of the coal industry for an effective coal hedging tool with counterparty credit risk mitigation facility ...
Monday, 05 December 11
DRY BULK RATES LOOKING TO EXTEND GAINS THIS WEEK - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
Capesize dry bulk carrier owners have had a great week, with rates rising for six straight sessions (including the end of the week before that). As ...
Sunday, 04 December 11
SUPRAMAX TRIPS VIA INDONESIA WERE REPORTED AROUND $ 7500 - 8000 PD
COALspot.com - The BDI and Cape index recovered this week. The BDI was up by 3.26 pct and Cape index saw a big jump and closed at 3409 points (up by ...
Saturday, 03 December 11
BORNEO TO SPEND US$600 MIO CAPEX - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, Coking coal miner PT Borneo Lumbung Energi & Metal Tbk (BORN) plans to spend US$600 million capital expenditure ( ...
Friday, 02 December 11
DRY BULK CARRIERS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS MARKET SPEEDS UP - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
With the tanker and container markets suffering dearly, it seems that the tide has once again turned in favor of the dry bulk carriers, despite over ...
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- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- The University of Queensland
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Australian Coal Association
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Planning Commission, India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
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