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Monday, 06 October 14
' COAL-BY-WIRE' FROM SUMATRA TO JAVA - THE JAKARTA POST
 Coal from the island of Sumatra accounts for most of Indonesia’s low-grade lignite, a low-quality coal that receives a poor price in international markets.
Given this low pricing combined with high transportation costs and the fact that most reserves are located in landlocked areas, it is not feasible to export Sumatra’s coal out of the island.
It is more efficient to use Sumatra’s coal for a mine-mouth power plant, an approach in which we develop a power plant very close to where mines are located, use the low-calorie coal from the mines to feed the plant, and transmit the electricity, rather than transporting a low-value commodity, out of the mines.
With mine-mouth, we no longer require either barges or expensive railway-heavy infrastructure to transport coal; rather we need to have long-distance high-voltage transmission lines to bring “coal-by-wire” from mines to consumer centers, either regions in Sumatra and/or Java-Bali.
Essentially, with “coal-by-wire” we are transporting a higher-value commodity by wire from mines to customers. Coal stays in the landlocked areas and feeds mine-mouth, coal-fired power plants.
“Coal-by-wire” would definitely boost the development of a domestic market for low-grade coal. Today, our market for coal is very thin as we are one of the world’s leading exporters of thermal coal of a high quality in the international market.
Our exports have increased very significantly within the past decade on account of demand from fast-growing Asian economies. More than 80 percent of our coal currently produced is exported.
Indeed, coal is currently the most important source of energy for our economy. For decades coal has accounted for more than half of our power-generation capacity. And this will continue for a half century to come before alternative and cleaner energy sources other than coal become affordably available.
Our economy is also growing, and of course will require more electricity power and therefore coal – challenges that have to be met. Electricity generation now consumes close to 75 million tons per year, and will almost triple in the next 10 to 15 years.
However, domestic use of coal today notoriously suffers from infrastructure bottlenecks. Congested barges and ports, as well as a shortage of railways limit the transportation of coal from coalmines in two coal-producing regions, Kalimantan and Sumatra, to demand centers in Java-Bali, where most of our power plants are located.
The majority of our coal reserves in the two regions are located in landlocked areas that require rail transportation infrastructure to reach ports for export.
Either truck haul or rail is needed to transport the coal to barge ports and terminals.
Truck operating costs are about twice that of rail, but existing rail transportation infrastructure is severely insufficient.
Indonesia’s attempts to improve coal-transport infrastructure for the domestic market have not been very successful. Dedicated coal ports in Kalimantan have been planned for many years, but implementation has again faced bottleneck issues.
Specialized railways for coal in Sumatra have also been initiated, but this concept is still under development and has not yet received a higher-level mandate or legal authorization.
Delays in expanding the capacity of barge and transportation infrastructure cause inefficiencies and high transportation costs in domestic coal utilization. These high costs and infrastructure bottlenecks have held back the development of the domestic market for coal.
Our high-voltage transmission lines are also astonishingly limited. The state-owned electricity company (PLN) operates approximately 40,000 kilometers of transmission lines, with less than 15 percent of this total serving the island of Sumatra.
If we can build more mine-mouth, coal-fired power generation plants we will need to expand our transmission network across the island, interconnected to other transmission systems in Java-Bali.
A new set of lines of a high-voltage of 500 kilovolts and medium-voltage of 275 kV needs to be developed as a backbone network across the island, i.e. providing long-distance, reliable and stable transmission.
The distribution system and transformer capacity also need to be expanded to service a larger coverage of costumers and demand centers.
We are required also to develop an interconnected transmission system, as existing electricity transmission is not compatible across regions due to different systems and manufacturer standards adopted in the past.
The current initiative of developing inter-island interconnection lines between Java and Sumatra with 500kV High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) lines needs to be completed in harmony with the mine-mouth development.
These long-distance transmission and distribution lines, as well as interconnected systems are required to exist before a system of mine-mouth power plants is commissioned to ensure that electricity produced can be transmitted in a timely manner and with minimum cost.
Both the central and local governments must work hand-in-hand to endorse incentives to encourage the private sector — independent power producers (IPPs) — to develop mine-mouth power plants.
Incentives need to be designed to enhance the financial viability of IPPs’ mine-mouth power plant projects.
PLN as an off-taker of IPP plays a fundamental role as the “coal-by-wire” agent, and has to be ready to absorb all of the risks associated with the development and operation of the system, including the difficulties in land acquisition and intra-regional compatibility of transmission systems.
Sumatra with its huge resources of low-grade coal can secure its own electricity supply and, eventually, can be the source of low-cost electricity with its energy radiating not only to Java, but also to every corner of the country.
Source: The Jakarta Post
The writer is deputy for energy and mineral resources at the office of Coordinating Economic Minister.
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Thursday, 16 October 14
PANAMAX OWNERS RECEIVE A PREMIUM FOR GOING TO INDIA VIA INDONESIA - FEARNLEYS AS
Handy
The Handy/Supra market continues to slide in both hemispheres, said Fearnleys AS in its latest week report. In the Atlantic we see rates co ...
Thursday, 16 October 14
ARE WE GOING TO SHOOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOT ONCE AGAIN? - PANOS MAKRINOS
As the East part of our globe was coming back from its October holidays last week, everyone expected that the Dry Bulk market would follow suit and ...
Wednesday, 15 October 14
PANAMAX: ACTIVITY IN THE PACIFIC WAS UNIMPRESSIVE
The Dry Bulk market noted another weekly decline last week, while the BDI moved below 1,000 points taking down with it expectations that a post hol ...
Wednesday, 15 October 14
INDONESIAN COAL PRICE REFERENCE FELL TO FRESH MULTI-YEAR LOWS IN OCTOBER
COALspot.com - The Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources of Indonesia revised down the coal bench mark price once again in October 2014.
...
Wednesday, 15 October 14
DRY BULK SHIPPING: RATE IMPROVEMENTS ARRIVED AS FORECAST, BUT UNCERTAINTY MOUNTS FOR 2015 DEMAND - BIMCO
BIMCO released its latest short term assessment of the dry bulk market, estimating that over the October-November period, the level of Capesize TC ...
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- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- PTC India Limited - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- The University of Queensland
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
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