INDONESIA may miss coal export target in 2011

Feb2, 2011
Indonesian Trade ministry has instructed independent surveyors temporarily not to issue pre-shipment survey report (LS) to the companies which were holding Production Operation IUP (special) for hauling and sale vide letter 15/ DAGLU.3.4/1/2011. The companies that were not holding Production Operation IUP (special) for hauling and sale also would not allowed coal sales between provinces or countries.

According to traders, Indonesian coal trading activities have almost entered in to uncertain situation since early January 2011. As per Regulation 23 of 2010 (regarding the Implementation of Mineral and Coal Mining Business Activities) , a party wishing to buy and sell (trade) minerals or coal must be obtained Production Operation IUP for hauling and sale. The specific purpose Production Operation IUPs are granted by application to the relevant authority. In the case of hauling or sale occurs within an inter-Province or countries, then the minister has to sign the license.

However, In an absence of Ministerial decree related to IUP OP KPP, the trade department has instructed surveyors not to conduct LS for the coal shipments except shipments from IUP OP holder (mine owners). Hence Independent surveyors who were authorized to conduct LS, have stopped issuing LS report for the shippers who does not have valid IUP OP KPP as per regulation 23/2010 article 36 and 37 and letter 15/ DAGLU.3.4/1/2011 issued by Trade department. As quoted by the jakarta post last week, Supriatna Suhala, executive director of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI), has said “It will create a negative impression for coal mining investors in the future”.

Chairman of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association also said to media that, around 70 ocean going vessels are stuck at coal loading ports around Indonesia because surveyors checking shipments won’t allow the exports before traders obtain fresh licenses from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. “More shipments will be halted as a lot more ships are entering the ports.” He further added.

Some traders have already declared force majeure and meantime others just postponed shipments until they obtain IUP OP K PP said a trader from South Kalimantan. Force majeure is a legal clause that allows producers to miss deliveries because of circumstances beyond their control. According to media reports, Indonesian may lose 3.5 million tons of exports in January 2011“Indonesia, the world’s largest thermal coal exporter may miss the export target in 2011 in case the license matter settled soon”, said market players. They further sais that, license application are pending issuance for more than 4-5 months. Department of Mines are still not clear when the Ministry is going to issue this license. Some coal suppliers were saying that, Minister of mines will delegate some of his authority to director general of mines to settle this issue.
Due to Egypt crisis oil prices are expected to rise from current level and coal will also expected to follow oil prices if Egyptian crisis continues as well as a new cyclone thread to coal bearing areas in Australia.

Delay in issuing new trading permits for Indonesian trading companies, export coal prices may pushed up further meantime domestic coal prices might fall significantly due to excess of availability of coal in the domestic market.
State owned electricity company, PLN may be happy to see the falling of domestic coal prices in coming weeks as PLN has requested coal suppliers to supply coal below January 2011 HBA price. January 2011 HBA ( Indonesian coal reference price) has jumped more than 8 percent early January 2011 compare to December 2010 HBA.
As quoted by The Jakarta Globe on 13 January 2011, PLN chairman Dahlan Iskan said, “We are in a dilemma now. The increasing price of coal is a real problem."

PLN’s director of primary energy, Nur Pamudji also said, PLN would demand producers honor the coal price stated in an Energy Ministry decree. “The decree says that the price of coal in 2011 depends on 2010’s fourth-quarter average,” according to paper report.
However at that time, Supriatna Suhala, APBI’s executive director was said that, the average price in December was $103.4 per metric ton, but coal companies had no choice but to increase their prices. “International coal prices keep increasing, so we have to sell according to global prices”

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