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.
|
|
Sunday, 07 September 14
SHIPMANAGERS SUPERVISION CONTRACT FOR NEWBUILDS - BIMCO
Shipmanagers are frequently called upon by their owner clients to supervise newbuilding projects on their behalf. The scope of the manager’s ...
Saturday, 06 September 14
SLOW COAL EXPORT REGISTRATION RAISES CONCERNS - THE JAKARTA POST
Several coal mining companies have yet to receive the go-ahead from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to obtain exporting licenses, leading ...
Saturday, 06 September 14
DRY BULK MARKET'S PROSPECTS ARE IMPROVING, DESPITE WEAK SECOND QUARTER - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
The dry bulk market has been rebounding during the past month, with the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) ended the week on a high note, reaching 1,155 points ...
Saturday, 06 September 14
INDONESIA WANTS TO REGULATE COAL DEALS - THE TELEGRAPH INDIA
Indonesia has raised concerns about suspected coal deals struck between overseas buyers and its unregistered domestic miners, the telegraph India r ...
Friday, 05 September 14
U.S. PRODUCED 19.2 MMST OF COAL LAST WEEK
COALspot.com – United States the world's second largest coal producer, produced approximately 19.20 million short tons (mmst) of coal in ...
|
|
|
Showing 3501 to 3505 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- White Energy Company Limited
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- PTC India Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- The University of Queensland
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Planning Commission, India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
|
| |
| |
|
