arya [at] posterous

when I'm exhilarated and mobile

Full Steam Ahead as PLN Targets Geothermal Power

Coal-powered plants account for around 42.2 percent of that capacity, with diesel-fired plants 23.7 percent, gas 22 percent, hydropower plants 6.7 percent and geothermal and other renewable energy at 5.4 percent. -- Excerpt from The Jakarta Globe

I personally think that coal power plants will still play major role in 10 years due to lower capex for development. Challenges to balanced energy mix would be economic scale and ROI. If new technology offers lower development cost then energy mix portion will shift to non-coal based. 

Coal upgrading will only boost exports. Is it true?

The government’s plan to ban low-calorific coal exports starting in 2014 will not help the country reduce reserve exploitation if the technology to upgrade coal calorific value is available, according to an industry group. -- Excerpt from The Jakarta Post

There is one thing which would be an issue, in my opinion, that if production growth would be limited by banning low-calorific coal export while coal producers have had legal permit dan production capacity then where would those coal go? 

Since currently government can only absorb 24% to 30% out of Indonesia coal production then it will significantly hold production growth, which then will impact on investment in coal industry. 

Chinese firm to build coal-fired power plant in West Kalimantan

PT Praba Indopersada, a subsidiary of general contractor firm Praba Group of Indonesia and Chinese firm Gezhouba Group, won a bid to build state-owned electricity company PLN’s coal-fired power plant in Bengkayang, West Kalimantan. -- Excerpt from The Jakarta Post

Total investment of the above 2 x 50 MW power plants would be $172 million and shall be part of second 10,000 MW scheme of power generation crash program. Power plant investment would certainly boost coal production from coal mining company, particularly in West Kalimantan area. From what I've learned, there are huge coal resources (and certainly reseves) in this area, ranging from low calorie (below 4,500 GAR) to high calorie (above 6,200 GAR), which are not yet being developed.

Bukit Asam to build two coal gasification plants

In a bid to help meet growing demand for gas in the country, state coal miner Bukit Asam (PTBA) plans to build two coal gasification plants and explore coalbeds for methane, a top company executive said. -- Excerpt from The Jakarta Globe.

Coal bed methane and gas are two "commodities" which are likely to be a hit in a future to replace crude oil and coal due to massive production and reserves depletion. I think Bukit Asam is on the right track to diversify its business, but the big question would be if it's the right time. We'll see.

I love Indonesia because she's not perfect

I know that she's not perfect because she's giving me chances to give her the best of me. She's not perfect because she wants me to become a better person for a better Indonesia. She's not perfect because she's teaching me the value of perfection, HONESTY and HARD WORK. -- Originally posted here and here (Indonesian)

 Three disasters struck Indonesia: flood in Wasior, earthquake and tsunami in Mentawai, and the eruption of Merapi in Yogyakarta. But, within no time, Indonesians are holding hands, standing side by side, helping all victims. They don't wait for any instruction from the government, it's just the empathy and believes as one nation. 

I do believe that my hope for a better Indonesia is not a dream. It's out there - in our hands.

A year now, so what next?

SBY's administration has reached one year point where probably most of Indonesian would have different opinion on what it has or has not achieved. Performance is what they want to see. Yet, it's our past. 

I believe that we are to busy to criticize, forgetting the most important thing: doing our best to the country. We are, now, the best at criticizing and pointing.

In Mongolia, you're not just developing your company to survive but developing the country as well

Investors keen to reap the benefits of Mongolia’s untapped mineral riches have shifted their focus from copper and gold to coal, with energy-hungry neighbor China as a key customer. -- Excerpt from The Jakarta Globe.

I have friends (let me call them friend) out there in northern part of Mongolia, starting up coal mining operation in an extreme weather condition, which is called MoEnCo. They told me that they have to build around 1,000 km road to mobilize their equipments. That's major infrastructure development, I must say. I told them that they're not just starting up a company but developing their country. And, they didn't even know what corporate social responsibility is.

Mudik indicates a centralized development in Indonesia to its capital city

I read once, several days ago (sadly I can't refer to any sources on this matter) that 15.5 million Jakartans would likely to go mudik on Y10 Lebaran days. I must say that I was bit shocked, not by the number, but by the thought that this number has been causing, intentionally or unintentionally - directly or indirectly, daily jam in Jakarta.

I was wondering if cities developments distribution which led to economy growth distribution and people welfare and community development distribution are well managed and well decentralized through out cities of Indonesia, would those people occupied Jakarta?

Let's move the capital city of Indonesia to somewhere else, if a capital city is what it takes to have such economic welfare as an attraction.