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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, 20 February 12
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Friday, 17 February 12
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Thursday, 16 February 12
GEARING UP FOR THE EMERGING OIL & GAS OPPORTUNITIES IN MYANMAR
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- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Australian Coal Association
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- The University of Queensland
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
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