We welcome article submissions from experts in the areas of coal, mining,
shipping, etc.
To Submit your article please click here.
|
|
|
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.
If you believe an article violates your rights or the rights of others, please contact us.
|
|
Monday, 13 October 14
NEWCASTLE COAL SWAP FOR Q1' 2015 DELIVERY CLOSED AT US$ 54.92, SGX DATA SHOWS
COALspot.com: API 5 FOB Newcastle Coal swap for delivery Q4' 2014 decreased US$ 0.80 (-1.46%) month over month and US$ 0.52 (-0.95%) week over ...
Monday, 13 October 14
INDONESIAN COAL SWAPS FOR DELIVERY Q4' 2014 GAINED WEEK ON WEEK AND DAY ON DAY
COALspot.com: Indonesian coal swaps for delivery Q4' 2014 gained week on week and day on day.
The swap lost US$ 0.13 (-0.25%) month on mon ...
Monday, 13 October 14
Q1' 2015 CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL SWAP CLOSED US$ 0.31 PMT HIGHER THAN Q4' 2014 CLOSING
COALspot.com: API 8 CFR South China Coal swap for Q4’ 2014 delivery decreased US$ 0.66 (-1.00%) month over month and US$ 0.40 (-0.61%) ...
Sunday, 12 October 14
INDONESIA TO INDIA FREIGHT RATES ARE EXPECTED TO BE WEAK - VISTAAR
COALspot.com: This week all the segments softened. The BDI down 7.13 pct week on week and closed below 1000 points at 963 points.
The Cape ind ...
Saturday, 11 October 14
COAL PRODUCTION RISES ONLY SLIGHTLY AS GOVT LIMITS MINING OPERATIONS - THE JAKARTA POST
Indonesian coal production rose by only 4 percent in the first nine months of this year, a relatively low increase compared to previous years, as t ...
|
|
|
Showing 3436 to 3440 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- White Energy Company Limited
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- The University of Queensland
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
|
| |
| |
|
