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Friday, 08 August 14
MINING DISPUTE IS CRIPPLING LOCAL ECONOMIES IN EASTERN INDONESIA - JG
 - By Iwan Harsono -
It seems as if there’s no end in sight to the series of negotiations between the government and mining companies about the Law on Mineral and Coal Mining (No. 4/2009), especially when taking into consideration the fact that Newmont Nusa Tenggara has opted to file for arbitration against the government of Indonesia. Geographically speaking, most mining giants, like Newmont and Freeport Indonesia, are operating in the Eastern Indonesia Region (KTI), comprising Papua, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara and Sulawesi, and the legal uncertainty surrounding mining operations has therefore led to a regional dip in economic growth.
Principally, the purpose of the Mining Law is noble, since it aims to increase the quality of the nation’s mineral exports for the benefit of its citizens, as stated in Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution. To complicate matters, however, several parties have argued that the Indonesian government isn’t ready yet to implement the law. Such circumstances have in turn led to the shutdown of several mineral mining companies across the country, particular in the east, a region rich in lucrative resources such as gold, copper and nickel.
Economic resilience
Currently, Eastern Indonesia is facing major developmental challenges and lately the investment climate has been less than helpful in increasing the region’s economic resilience. Eastern Indonesia has become a region that has suffered the most following the implementation of the Mining Law. At the macro level, this policy has resulted in a significant decrease in economic resilience. For instance, the region’s economic growth in the first quarter of 2014 fell to 4.6 percent (year on year), from 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013. Economic growth has struggled in several provinces, the majority of which rely heavily on the mining sector, especially Southeast Sulawesi, Papua, West Papua, West Nusa Tenggara, and West Kalimantan.
West Nusa Tenggara saw its economic growth decrease by 3.94 percent, with the mining industry suffering one of the sharpest declines at 9.82 percent in the first quarter of 2014. To make matters worse, an imbalance in the export-import rate often also leads to an even sharper overall economic decline.
There have been many changes following the implementation of the export ban in January earlier this year, and companies in the mining industry have struggled to cope. Strong sales overseas and the availability of only a limited number of smelters has influenced the production of copper (in Papua and Nusa Tenggara), nickel (in Sulawesi) and bauxite (in Kalimantan), and recently it has even threatened the coal industry as well.
Domino effect
Companies that didn’t see any way to sell their extracted resources were forced to shut down, send their employees home with limited pay or in some cases, dismiss them outright. Based on data from the Indonesia Mining Association, approximately 133,000 employees have been dismissed so far.
Newmont, for instance, sent home 6,400 of its employees in June because stockpiles have been full since last May due to the export ban. As one of the most important contributors to the local economy in West Sumbawa, Newmont’s production halt has impacted both the local and regional economies.
And there will be a domino effect on all other sectors that depend on the mining operations, for instance by providing services, and on the government, which will see a drop in tax and royalty income.
While those who were sent home are still receiving their salaries — albeit not the full amount — the economic impact has affected the communities surrounding the mining site the most, as most of them rely heavily on Newmont’s operations. Most of the small shop owners have complained of having excess stock as spending power continues to fall.
Handayani, a local diner owner, said that before the current economic struggles she often earned as much as Rp 10 million ($850) in a single day, though these days she claims she’s lucky if she can earn Rp 1 million by noon. Consequently, she has been forced to cut the number of her employees down from 12 to six.
When we look at the bigger picture, Newmont claims that the West Sumbawa region stands to lose as much as $726 million per year, the most of which comes from decreasing CSR investment, salaries and domestic purchases. If we take tax and royalties into consideration as well, the number would rise to $887 million annually.
Possible solutions
To strengthen the economy of Eastern Indonesia we will need to improve the regional infrastructure for transportation, specifically through the renovation of ports and airports in strategic cities. Unfortunately, at the moment the fear of losing employment has been on everyone’s mind.
With hindsight being 20/20, in retrospect the government should have prepared a mitigation plan prior to implementing the current regulation. Fear, anxiety and uncertainty have miners and surrounding communities worried. They have no other option but to hope the government steps in and lends a helping hand.
Renegotiations have to be finalized sooner rather than later.
For its part, the government has to be wise if it wants to solve the dispute with those involved. From both a macro and a micro economic perspective, the current mining dispute presents a major obstacle to development in Eastern Indonesia.
Renegotiations should offer a solution that is beneficial for both mining companies and the government in order to ensure that operations can be resumed as soon as possible. And it is crucial that the government prepare a safety net for local communities that depend on mining operations. Finally, a mitigation plan should be included in future mining regulations, specifically one that keeps the welfare of the locals in mind. These steps should be taken quickly if we want to fulfil the promises of our constitution.
Iwan Harsono, a member of the Advisory Board for Economic Resources in West Lombok, is a lecturer in economics at the University of Mataram.
This article was originally published in The Jakarta Globe
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Friday, 06 September 24
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- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Australian Coal Association
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- MS Steel International - UAE
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- The University of Queensland
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
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