Indonesia may allow exports of lower quality steam coal

Thursday, 03 Mar 2011

Indonesia the world’s largest exporter of power plant coal, may revise a government plan and allow lower quality coal to be exported after objections from miners.

Mr Bambang Setiawan director general of coal and minerals at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said that “We don’t want this rule to hamper investments although it’s aimed at increasing exports of higher-value coal. Investors are worried that they won’t be able to sell most of their output if the grade limit is too high.”

Indonesia had planned to ban exports of the fuel with an energy value of less than 5,600 kilocalories a kilogram starting in 2014, requiring producers to upgrade the calorie if they want to ship it overseas, Witoro Soelarno, then secretary to the director general of coal and minerals at the energy ministry, said in January.

Mr Setiawan said that “It’s not an easy and cheap process to upgrade the calories. We need to adjust the limit to give the producers the ability to sell their output without having to invest too much on technology upgrades.”

He said that the government’s main objective in setting the new rule is to increase revenue from coal exports and ensure sufficient supplies of the fuel for state utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara.

India second largest importers of Indonesian coal in 2010

Wednesday, 02 March 2011

Indonesia, the world largest coal exporter, shipped 24.68 million tons of coal in January 2011, which was 1.19 percent higher Y-o-Y but 10.84 percent lesser M-o-M. Indonesia has exported 284.83 million tons of coal including semi coking and LRC coal in year 2010, according to our source who is familiar with Indonesian coal exports.
Exports to China
January 2011 has witnessed a drop in Indonesia's coal exports to china by 43.63 percent compared to December 2010 exports. January exports of Indonesian coal to china amounted to 4.796 million tons as against 8.510 million tons in December 2010. Last year Chinese's utilities have imported more Indonesian coal than Indian Utilities. Out of Indonesian Coal Exports in 2010 China accounted for 74.570 million tons which is around 26.18 percent of the total coal exports.

India 2nd largest Importer
India became the second largest importer of Indonesian coal in 2010. 47.593 million tons of Indonesian coal has been imported both by government and private utilities of India in 2010. India’s January 2011 imports of Indonesian coal have jumped significantly. India has imported 6,099,932 MT of coal in January 2011 compared to just 3,885,454 MT in a month ago or 56.99 percent higher than December imports. In 2010 Indonesia has exported 16.70 percent of its total coal exports to India.

Top five Indonesian coal importers in 2010 were China, India, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

India reduces import duty for Indonesian coal
India has introduced special reduced rate of import duty for Indonesian coal since January 2011. Thereby Indonesian coal enjoys 2% cheaper import duty in India compared to other origins of coal. According to market players, Indonesian coal is subjected to a duty of 3 percent as against 5 percent for other origins of coal.

Indonesian coal traders must hold IUP OP KPP
Early January Indonesia has implemented temporary coal export ban on coal traders until 4th of February. After a month of ban, finally Indonesia has allowed few coal traders to resume coal exports. According to government officers, as of 18th February, Indonesia has issued 63 trading or export licenses to Indonesian coal trading companies. Still few hundreds of applications were in process with the mining department. This ban led to lower exports by around 10 percent compared to December 2010 exports.

Indonesian ban on coal below 5600 GAD by 2014
As per the news sources Indonesian government is contemplating a ban of coal with calorific value below 5600 Kcal/kg on GAD basis by 2014. In order to get export eligibility LRC coal producers asked to upgrade their coal to 5600 GAD or more. If not miners will have to depend on home market. This move of the Government makes the message clear that value added product should only be exported. This action encourages miners to establish additional facilities and generate additional employment or to sell the raw product within the country as more domestic consumption is predicted in the coming years. Export of Value added product enhances the inward remittances and fetches more taxes and revenue.

However, experts and some major stake holders are of the opinion that the proposed ban by 2014 may not be practical due to non availability of commercially viable upgrading and conversion technology at this moment. Also the infrastructure needed for this type of mammoth activity of beneficiation and upgrading of coal needs large sums of investments. According to industry sources, worldwide the upgrading technology is in the nascent stages and yet to be established. At this moment there is no proven technology is available to upgrade coal at a workable cost. Due to these reasons and also to protect the export income many big coal producers are lobbying with the Government to dilute the seriousness of the proposal.

Low calorific value coal accounts for almost 60% of the total Indonesian coal production or exports an exporter said. International coal prices are still at lower level and it will not be workable for upgraded coal to compete with coal that has been produced from other countries including new comers such as Mozambique and Mongolia. Once the logistical bottlenecks are cleared, these two countries become big competitors for other coal producing countries. In this context how the proposed ban on below 5600 GAD coal would take a shape is much crucial and an acid test for the Government to sustain the heavy pressure from LRC coal producers and also politically an important year due to Presidential/general elections.

Indian investment in LCV coal mines
According to industry sources, there was a spate of Indian companies’ investment in several low GCV coal mines in Indonesia with a motive of attaining fuel security. According to available data, more than two dozen Indian companies have already invested in coal mines in Indonesia and some of them are already in production. Majority of Indian investors in Indonesia were end-users and the purpose of investment was purely captive use. The reaction of this captive investor’s is yet to be seen if the bans seriously considered and implemented by 2014. In which case they might claim exemption for their captive usage in India or withdraw their existing investments and channelize the same to other upcoming promising destinations like Mongolia, Mozambique and Australia. One of the serious investor opined that in case such ban is inevitable the Indian investor arbitrage on the cost of upgradation Vs migrating to other viable destinations. However, one trend is clearly emerging that Indian coal mine investments abroad are seeing steady increase. The evidence of recent acquisition of Western Australia’s Griffin Coal Mines for a whopping US$ 750 Million by Lanco group or aggressive investments in Mozambique, South Africa and Queensland shows the urge of Indian industry main agenda of attaining a level of continuous and reliable coal supplies. Understand US coal started coming to India. One of the major cement plants in west coast India contracted for 7 shipments of high sulphur, high calorific value coal from US on CFR terms at much cheaper cost than Indonesia. According to a major power developer in India, majority of the Indian private power plants would start operating by end 2013, hence all the Indian industries are seriously scouting for acquiring mines abroad. In view of the current uncertainty of high calorific value coal mines availability in Indonesia and the threatening proposal of ban below 5600 gad coal making them to focus on other origin coals. Moving higher calorific value coals by capesize vessels are seen as the cheaper remedies to counter the vagaries of Indonesian low calorific value and high moisture coals with stringent regulations and threat of recurring Force Majors.

ICRP
Indonesia already successfully implemented monthly coal reference price for its coal. Coal producers were asked to comply with the government declared index prior to conclude any short term and long terms coal sales agreement with its buyers. Indonesian HBA have raised fifth straight month and it was at US$ 127.05 in February 2011.

Tags :import duty on coal by India, raw material, steel mills, power plant,

INDONESIA allowed 60 coal trading companies to export coal

Wed, Feb09, 2011
A temporary ban imposed on coal traders in January has lifted this week. As of today 60 coal trading companies were allowed to resume coal shipments the export market. Since 5th January 2011, all the coal exports through coal trading companies were banned due to lack of supporting regulations. Indonesia's trade ministry instructed surveyors to halt temporarily issuing surveyor reports to traders in the process of reapplying for trading permits under a new coal and mining law.
Minister of energy has signed a new regulation on 4th February allowing director of general of coal and mineral to sign and issue IUP OP KPP to traders.
According to media reports, director general of coal and minerals has already signed 60 permits and forwarded the list of qualified trading companies to trade department. On receipt of the list of IUPOPKPP holders, trade department has instructed independent surveyors to conduct the survey which is one the requirement to apply the export permit from customs office.
“We started pre-shipment survey for coal that belongs to coal traders”, said an independent surveyor.

Indonesian coal mining association claimed that, around 3.5 million tons of coal piled at loading ports due to exports ban on coal traders since early January, and may be cleared within this month. Some coal traders have declared force majeure and some postponed shipments due to new ban coal traders early January. Around 60 to 70 vessels was also anchored in coal loading anchorages and waiting for coal since early January 2011, said stevedoring and shipping agent.
Traders optimized that, they can clear delayed cargoes as soon as possible and other industries, which are integrated to coal loading and transportation also will return to normal after slowing down for almost one month.

Indonesian coal reference price has also jumped significantly in February compared with January 2011. Energy Ministry has declared February ICRP at US$ 127.05 per metric ton, which was 13.03 percent higher than January HBA of US$ 112.40.(CS)

(sourced:coalspot)
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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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Indonesia Blocks 3.5 Million Tons of Coal Shipments

February 1, 2011,
Bloomberg, By Bambang Djanuarto and Yoga Rusmana

Indonesia’s government has blocked shipments of at least 3.5 million metric tons of coal since Jan. 15, after a delay in issuing new trading permits, an industry group said.
About 70 vessels, each with a capacity of 50,000 tons, are stuck at ports because surveyors checking shipments won’t allow the exports before traders obtain fresh licenses from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said Bob Kamandanu, chairman of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association.
“Some traders have declared force majeure because of the permit issue,” Kamandanu told reporters in Jakarta today, without identifying them. “More shipments will be halted as a lot more ships are entering the ports.”

Indonesia’s mining law of 2009 requires traders to convert old permits into new trading licenses issued by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry before they ship products overseas, said Djunaedi, head of mining exports at the Trade Ministry said Jan. 26. The ministry halted the process of giving out new licenses while waiting for the ministerial decree to be issued, Djunaedi, who uses one name, said at the time.
Alberth Yusuf Tobogu, export director of mining and industry products at the Trade Ministry, and Djunaedi didn’t answer two calls to their mobile phones seeking comment.
Force majeure is a legal clause that allows producers to miss deliveries because of circumstances beyond their control.
Indonesia, the world’s largest thermal coal exporter, has since 2008 required all exports of coal, metal ores and concentrate to be verified by government-appointed surveyors to prevent illegal shipments of commodities.

Some Indonesia coal traders declare force majeure on rule change-assoc

JAKARTA Feb 1,2011
(Reuters) Some Indonesian coal traders have declared force majeure after a trade rule change, with around 60-70 vessels stuck in various ports and 3.5 million tonnes unable to be shipped, the chairman of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association said on Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear which trading companies and which buyers were affected, Bob Kamandanu told reporters, after a new trade regulation caused the delays in the world's top thermal coal exporter.
The problems have come after the trade ministry ordered surveyors in January to temporarily halt issuing surveyor reports to traders who are in the process of reapplying for trading permits under a new coal and mining law system. The surveyor reports are documents required for shipping the fuel.
The rule appeared to affect traders who do not own mines and buy blended coal, or aggregate coal, from various small miners, as well as traders who buy coal in barges. It was not clear which firms had declared force majeure.

"The vessels have been stuck in various coal ports around the country. Stockpiles have been building up because the coal can't be loaded to vessels," Bob Kamandanu said.
Most of the vessels were shipping the coal to buyers in India and China, he said.
Indonesia has required exports of mining products including coal and tin to be checked by surveyors before shipping them out as the country seeks to keep illegal mining in check and boost revenue from the sector.

"They have submitted requests for processing permits to the energy and mines ministry since three months ago but with no response," Kamandanu told reporters.
Surveyor reports show the origin of the cargoes and are used to calculate royalties.
The trade rule so far has not affected shipments from coal firms such as top producers Bumi Resources and Adaro Energy , as surveyors are still allowed to issue reports for coal exports from producers.
But it could affect the country's production if the delays run for a longer period, said Kamandanu.
The delays come as Indian traders and end-users are close to resuming prompt buying on thermal coal after a break of several months, some of India's largest traders said last week.
Australia's thermal coal prices on the globalCOAL weekly index, a benchmark for Asia, closed at $127 per tonne for the week to date on Monday, up from $124.25 a week earlier.(Reporting by Alfian; Writing by by Fitri Wulandari; Editing by Neil Chatterjee, sourced: reuters)