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Wednesday, 20 November 19
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN COMMERCIAL COAL MINING IN INDIA? - DIPESH DIPU
 In August 2019, Government of India announced its approval for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for coal mining, processing and sale. Not that FDI in coal mining sector was new, but novelty in that was that government now permitted foreign ownership of coal mines for commercial sale of coal produced from such mines. He justifications provided by government sources included need for competition in a sector that has been traditionally dominated by government-owned companies Coal India Limited and Singareni Collieries Company Limited; need for enhanced production as here has been shortfall in meeting demand; and, need for newer technologies that may bring in sustainability to coal mining. These indeed are commendable objectives and opening up the sector for foreign participation may certainly be considered a step in the right direction. However, public policy needs to be grounded in realism, and the reality of attractiveness of commercial coal mining in India does not bode well for foreign participation.
The response of government-owned companies for coal blocks on offer for allotment for commercial coal mining was announced in early August 2019 provides the evidence. Nine coal blocks were put on offer for sale of coal in markets and the eligibility for these were restricted to government-owned companies including the state government-owned ones. There were, however, only three coal blocks[1] that received applications by NMDC Limited, Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation and Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation. This lukewarm response may indicate towards the market sentiments for commercial coal mining in India. It must also be considered here that the coal blocks for allotment for government-owned companies do not have the two-stage auction based bidding for winning the blocks and, thus, the pay-out required to win these coal blocks may be lower in comparison to coal blocks put out for auctions. So, even with lower additional pay-out to government in the form of premium the coal blocks have not found many takers. There may be several underlying economic reasons, which are amplified for foreign participants, and thus, require consideration to evaluate if this approval for FDI in commercial coal mining would have any impact and if it would meet its stated objectives.
The first and the foremost is the economic feasibility of these mines. The foreign, and indeed any private company, would have to participate in auction process for winning a coal block, and commit to a competitive premium to access the resources. This has been an impediment for private sector participation in India, given the evidence of coal blocks awarded for captive consumption in power and non-regulated sectors that include cement, steel and other approved end users. There seems to be some sanity dawning on participants on these auction with every successive rounds of auction, seen from the lower winning premiums, and hence, it may be expected that the trend may continue. Nonetheless, the premium will certainly erode the margins for commercial miners, the extent of this erosion would be a function of degree of competition for the coal blocks. The margins are also likely to be uncertain in view of the price volatility of coal, which in Indian market is pegged with CIL price and a certain premium that reflects typically the discount that IL prices tend to have over energy-equivalent international prices. This uncertainty of prices is likely to be confounded by the uncertainty in demand-supply gap that these commercial miners are required to fulfil. There has been a shortfall in supply in the recent past, evident from the rise in coal imports in the last two years even with the stated objective of the government to reduce coal imports. This may present itself as an opportunity. However, the question is whether this shortfall is likely to sustain, and thus, create a marketplace for commercial miners. With a slump in thermal power generation and nearly absent pipeline of new coal based projects, this assumption may be quite a big one to make and decide in favour of making foreign direct investment in Indian coal mining.
Other important risks pertain to project execution. There have been several impediments in coal mining project implementations, such as procurement of licenses and permits, acquisition of land and rehabilitation and resettlement of project affected people. These, apart from the procedural challenges, involve risk of reputation. Business practices on all these accounts in mining sector have often been marred with controversies and have led to perceptions of externalities in these processes having significant influence on the outcomes. Foreign participants in Indian mining have been wary of these, and hence, have had little success to show even though they have had offices and a few exploration and contract mining projects in India. Apart from reputation, the risks in procurement of licenses and land acquisition create the risks of project delays, which may then translate into cost escalations, thereby impacting project economics. Coal mining projects may have such challenges in attracting foreign direct investment.
There are challenges of talent shortage and financing as well. Innovative technologies that the foreign miners are likely to bring in India will require high quality geo-statisticians, geologists, mine planners and mining engineers. India does produce graduates in these areas of study but quantities do no necessarily reflect quality, which are further compounded by the brain drain of talent into other industries, primarily, information technology. Mining industry in general, and coal mining in particular, has not been able to retain relent in the last decade or so, with advent of opportunities for the smart geoscientists and engineers in alternate industries. Foreign mining companies may find this crippling.
There are challenges in financing too. Coal mining projects may have been good candidates for resource-based financing, but that has not happened on account of several factors, not the least of those being dominance of government-owned companies priding themselves on debt-free balance sheets, and the quality of geological information that may be inferior to global standards. The market for debt for coal mining then often reduces itself to equipment financing with the equipment being securitised to the lenders. Globally preferred model of equipment leasing is still in its relatively early stages of comprehension and acceptance in Indian mining. With limited options of raising finances, the higher degree of equity investments may also be a deterrent for foreign investors as the may have comparable projects competing for scarce capital.
Coal mining industry has been on a downward spiral globally. Foreign large miners have divested or are divesting their stakes in coal projects. Global bankers have committed themselves to not financing coal and coal based power projects. Insurance companies are shying away from coal projects too. The ecosystem for coal mining project execution is dying. Epitaphs are being written on coal and its demise is predicted by governments, investors and policy analysts wold over. But for the coal addiction of Asia, China and India in particular, the demise may have been sooner. Under such gloomy outlook for the industry, with coal mining companies filing for bankruptcies frequently, it would be tough to get these foreign companies to look at Indian destinations favourably. An industry staring at terminal decline may not witness new investors, and old ones that may have been facing severe challenges in their home countries to look out for opportunities in India.
Optimism at this point of time of foreign miners participating in Indian coal mining sector, that presents a challenging business environment, may be misplaced. Only when the government calls for applications for coal blocks for sale of coal with permitted participation for foreign direct investment that the final picture shall emerge.
By Dipesh Dipu
Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Expert
This article originaly published on economictimes and Linkedin
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Saturday, 01 February 20
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Friday, 31 January 20
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- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- White Energy Company Limited
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
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- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Australian Coal Association
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- The University of Queensland
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
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