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Thursday, 12 November 15
FOREIGN COAL MINE ACQUISITION - STRATEGY VERSUS OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIAN UTILITIES - DIPESH DIPU
.jpg) The acquisition market for thermal coal assets abroad is dull. Sellers of all hues are in the market; some are actively scouting for buyers while others, hoping against hope that someone looking to buy might knock the door and hence, are their running operations even in cash losses. The coal assets were acquired by many Indian power utilities and commodity trading companies, and some were acquired even leading to unrelated diversification. Indonesia was the toast of coal mine acquisition investments from Indian companies, while there were big investments in Australia, South Africa and other countries too. Why now, when the quoted asset prices are all time low, most Indian investors are shying away when the contrarian strategy would typically require one to grab the opportunity?
The global prices of thermal coal are lower than the March 2009 levels, a lowest observed in a decade after the fall due to global financial crisis. Costs on the other hand have been rising, marginal costs of mining in Australia for a large percentile of coal mines is upward of US $ 60 per tonne, which is nearly the price they fetch for high grade coal. Percentiles for South African and Indonesian mines are better as these are the lowest cost producers in the world. It is common sense that when the commodity price is low, below the marginal cash cost of production, it is advisable to buy the lowest cost producer, which will survive and benefit once the commodity price recovers after the more expensive players are forced out of the market. Now, when the coal prices are lower than the marginal costs and there are several low cost producers willing to sell or have been forced to sell due to financial distress, the absence of buyers indicates only one thing – the concern about price recovery.
Global thermal coal prices had been stable in nominal terms through the mid-1970s till 2003, almost range-bound from US$ 25-35 per tonne. This essentially meant that in real terms prices fell through the three decades. However, since then demand led price hikes scaled new peaks every year and reached close to US$ 200 per tonne in July 2008. The global meltdown in the aftermath of financial crisis led to coal prices tumbling down to US$ 60-65 per tonne in March 2009 before heading back to US$ 135-140 per tonne by early 2011. And since then, there has been a constant downward trend that remains unabated till now.
China has been a prime mover of the global coal industry. The prices turned to its peaks when China became a net importer of coal in 2008-09. In 2014-15, domestic production of coal in China has seen a slowdown due to cost pressures, while its imports have fallen as well by nearly a third from last year. It is being considered that for cleaner environment, China is attempting to lower its dependence on coal-based power generation. While in India, domestic coal supply scenario has improved on two counts - Coal India and SCCL have improved production, and the demand for coal hasn’t picked up as expected. This has led to thermal coal imports falling albeit at a slow pace. Indian power generation capacity addition which was rapid in 2009-2012 has taken a hit, largely due to fuel crisis during that period, apart from challenges such as delays in approvals and clearances and resulting financing constraints. Coal India has also embarked upon a near-1 billion tonnes per annum production by 2020, which may improve domestic coal supplies, while capacity addition growth in power generation may take some time as investor confidence returns to the sector. China and India, thus, do not paint a picture of global coal price recovery soon.
US coal companies are faced with existential questions and have begun to look at the international markets for exports, given that local demand has suffered due to environmental protection laws. Australia also seems to have oversupply challenge. Several key projects that could have further enhanced coal production in Bowen and Galilee basins are now mothballed. Japan has plans to increase coal based generation that will positively impact the demand for coal, but that may not absorb the high oversupplies already in the market.
The other significant disruptor for coal sector has been the emergence of renewable energy, solar power in particular, with scalability and economics gradually tilting in their favour. On a total cost basis, including environmental costs, the inflexion point between coal based and solar power seems to have been reached. The pace of change in technology in these renewables is high, which has resulted in fall of solar power tariffs from Indian Rupees (INR) 12-15 per unit in 2009-10 to INR 4.63 in the recently concluded bids by NTPC. The trend of falling tariffs in solar power coupled with scalabilities that till recently were not considered achievable brought coal based power generation to the inflexion point. While concerns about quality of supplies may persist for some time, suffice it to say that the disruption in coal sector is imminent and inevitable, and that may have an impact on global coal prices.
Given these, it may be optimistic to evaluate coal assets on a price recovery outlook. It may make sense to invest in the assets that may sustain profitability at slightly lower than current prices, possibly in the marginal cost range of US$ 35-45 per tonne for coal of 5000-6000 kCal/kg gross calorific values on as received basis. Investors should prefer operating assets, which may not have construction and development risks as well as risks of permits. Essentially, with these, the investors also need to look at regulatory risks in the destination country.
Indonesian coal sector has been in a flux and has led to enhanced perception of regulatory risks even though from the logistics and mining costs points of view, it may appear the favourable place to buy coalmines. The divestment clause that restricts foreign ownership and eventually makes a foreign buyer a minority stakeholder has the potential to restrict investments only to smaller projects where reserves can be exhausted before a mine transfers ownership. South Africa and southern African countries like Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana have challenges of logistics even though the regulatory regimes are favourable. Mozambique, for instance, has only one operating Sena rail link connecting the coalfields in Tete to Beira port, which is already running at capacity, and is about 900 kilometers. Infrastructure development plans are now doubtful given the concern of coal price recoveries. Australia has challenges of higher cost of production, compliance costs and higher logistics costs, particularly for coal assets in Galilee basin.
Given these, the attractiveness of coal mine acquisition is low even though the low asset prices provide opportunities. As reported in the national newspapers, Indian government owned companies seem to be scouting for assets, which is far more challenging for them given their approach and methodologies for acquisition. Tendering route may be considered the least efficient for such acquisition as the market size in such tenders gets limited to only those assets who choose to respond to the tenders. It is a passive approach which gets hampered by inefficiencies in information channels as well and may not reach the potential sellers with good assets. In my recently concluded assignments for a few of such government-owned companies, it was observed that most bidders turned out to be Indian companies that invested abroad and have not been able to develop the coal assets well for themselves. For success in the market, it is required that ground work is done privately to assess target zones and identify strategically fitting assets and then approach the owners to nudge them to sell. This, however, may be tough for the government-owned companies in light of their internal processes, which obviously have not been designed for such acquisitions.
For Indian companies to acquire foreign coal assets, it is critical that they identify their strategic objectives and not go by the opportunities the market seemingly provides in terms of large number of sellers in the market willing to sell at relatively low prices. Private sector companies have better procedural manoeuvrability while government-owned companies get tied up in their own processes to effectively acquire assets that fit them. In any case, the long term price outlook being uncertain, investors need to tread with caution and pick assets that may sustain profitability even with worse forecasts. Else, the winners curse follows.
By Dipesh Dipu
Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Expert
India
Views and opinions / conclusion expressed herein are personal views of the author and not that of COALspot.com.
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Tuesday, 30 June 15
Q1'16 FOB INDONESIA COAL SWAP CLOSED $ 43.45 PER MT
COALspot.com: Indonesian coal swap for delivery Q3 2015 declined month on month and flat week over week, this past week.
The Q3 swap was decli ...
Monday, 29 June 15
CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL SWAPS UP SLIGHTLY MONTH OVER MONTH
COALspot.com: API 8 CFR South China Coal swap for Q3’ 2015 delivery rose US$ 0.57 (1.11%) per MT month over month.
A commodity swap is a ...
Monday, 29 June 15
FOB NEWCASTLE COAL SWAP SLIGHTLY UP MONTH OVER MONTH
COALspot.com: API 5 FOB Newcastle Coal swap for Q3’ 2015 delivery up $ 0.49 per MT (1.08%) month over month to US$ 45.77 per mt. The swap was ...
Saturday, 27 June 15
THE FREIGHT MARKET WAS STEADY EARLIER IN THE WEEK; SOFTEN INTO WEEK'S END
COALspot.com: The freight market remain steady earlier in the week, but towards end of the week BDI and BCI shows some signs of softening.
The ...
Friday, 26 June 15
INDONESIA COAL PRODUCTION FALLS BETWEEN JAN-MAY : JG
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources announced that coal production declined to 166 million tons between January and May, a 19 percent drop ...
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- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Australian Coal Association
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
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- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
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- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
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- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
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- London Commodity Brokers - England
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Parliament of New Zealand
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- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Planning Commission, India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- The University of Queensland
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
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- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
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