Wednesday, 3 July 2013

EXPORT OF COAL BREAK LOOSE, DOMESTIC DEMAND UNFULFILLED



The Government of RI was in no possession of production map nor consumption map of fossil fuel, especially coal and the effect was felt on the life of powerhouses in Indonesia. Besides, the Government's impulse was still in vast exploitations as long as there was oversees demand. Coal resources in the province of East Kalimantan was the biggest in Indo­nesia, the production output being: 261 million tone (2012), and 390 million tons (2011). On the second strata was South Kalimantan, producing around 47 million tons (2012). “The problem is that export is more stimulating rather than fulfilling domestic need such as supplying powerhouses” Kahar Bahri of the Coalmine Advocation Network (JATAM) of East Kalimantan disclosed to Business News (5/2).

Now avocation tend to drift toward climate change, so prevention of wider land clearing became imperative. One of the possible means to be taken by the Government of RI wee to constantly reduce export quota. Restriction was not even maximized. Businesspeople were still demand oriented, not on efforts of preventing climate change due to coal burning.

Estimate of coal reserves, particularly in Kali­mantan, was only sufficient till year 2020. “The Government must change their mindset, not to rely on coal as income resource. They should be aware of the threat of anomalous climate that endangers the faith of millions of people. Irregular climate caused by in­creased envision of coal, oil an gas posed as common threat to us all”.

Coal mines were the worst sources of pol­lution products causing global warming and anomalous climate. If export quota were let loose and land clearing continued to happen, East Kalimantan (Kaltim) could be the starting point of coal production and pollution process as cord processing needed vest volumes of water for washing while water was plentiful in Kalimantan. On the other hand the Dayak community in Kalimantan were highly reliant on forest, land and water. “The three components: land, water end forest, are the essential needs of the Dayak commu­nities in growing plants those were components they could not live without”.

Deforestation in Kalimantan for mining ex­plorations left horrible holes on earth. So far, miners simply left the holes wide open, moreover most of the land far coal mining were open pits.

Meanwhile Greenpeace Indonesia reported there were 14 big projects of dirty carbon industry. The report entitled Point of No Return highlighted coalmine expansion by Australia, China, the USA, and Indonesia. Expansion of oil sand also spread out to Canada and Russia. Meanwhile gas production was only expanding to Kaspia Sea and the USA.

Anomalous climate caused by glass house ef­fect end carbon, originating from coalmining megaprojects was the direct cause of carelessness of the Indonesian Government, because proposals and pro­motion of fossil fuel projects broke loose to threat millions of people. Fourteen project would increase CO2 emission as much as 6 rigatonis per year. “The International Energy Board (IEA) was highly expectant that the Government of RI would reduce emission since the record was already broken, i.e. 31.6 tons” Arif Fiyanto, energy and climate campaigner of Greenpeace Indonesia disclosed to Business News (5/2).

Even the World Economic Forum in their report Global Risk 2013 in Davos warned global temperature of 3.6 – 4 celcius. “Or could even be six degrees Celsius. The increase is was above the Government’s promise to maintain only below two degrees” Arif was quoted as saying.

Indonesia was a country most vulnerable and most unprepared to overcome climate change. The result was natural disasters like flood, long drought, landslide and extreme climate mounting up everywhere. President SBY once promised to reduce carbon emission in Indonesia to 26 percent in 2020. “With international support emission control might come to 41 percent” Arif concluded. 


Business News - February 08,2013 



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