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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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Thursday, 26 September 19
INDIA INCREASES ITS ANNUAL COAL PRODUCTION BY 2.7% PER YEAR FROM 850 MILLION SHORT TONS IN 2018 TO 2 BILLION SHORT TONS BY 2050 - EIA
Worldwide coal production holds steady at about 8 billion short tons, or 160 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), per year through 2040. Inc ...
Wednesday, 25 September 19
SHIPPING MARKET INSIGHT - INTERMODAL
In the past five months there has been significant activity in the asset market with the dry bulk segment being by far the most volatile in terms o ...
Tuesday, 24 September 19
9TH ANNUAL SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATION SUMMIT 2019 ASIA PACIFIC
Summit: 9th Annual Supply Chain Innovation Summit 2019 Asia Pacific
Host: Ace Events
Website: http: ...
Monday, 23 September 19
SUPRAMAX: THE ASIAN ARENA IT WAS A SLOW START, BUT DEMAND INCREASED AS THE WEEK WENT ON - BALTIC BRIEFING
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The market trended down over this past week, breaking the market out of its upward trending range. While the market traded sideways at ...
Monday, 23 September 19
CHINA RECORDS SLOWER GROWTH IN COAL PRODUCTION - XINHUA
The growth of China’s raw coal production slowed down in August, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed.
Aro ...
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- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Australian Coal Association
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Planning Commission, India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- The University of Queensland
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Minerals Council of Australia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
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