Indonesia’s coal and energy plans face hurdles

Significance His remarks follow an Indonesian Coal Mining Association forecast in November that coal consumption in 2017 had increased 16% over 2016's levels. The rise in domestic coal consumption is emblematic of Indonesia’s energy demands, and the effects of uncertain overseas demand for Indonesian coal. Impacts The coal lobby will be a strong force in Indonesian politics for decades. Coal-centred energy plans could harm Indonesia’s population and environment. Indonesian renewable energies will be underdeveloped unless official policy changes. Government efforts to draw more income from the mining sector will intensify.

Subject Zambian mining instability. Significance Copper miner First Quantum Minerals says it has not discovered material errors in its customs payments after bringing in external auditors to scrutinise transactions between 2013 and 2017. This follows claims by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) that Quantum underpaid the authorities by 76.50 billion kwacha (8.15 billion dollars). The Zambian government appears to be attempting to squeeze First Quantum and other mining companies -- whose transactions it also intends to audit -- to raise much-needed revenue amid ballooning government debt. Impacts The government’s pattern of implementing policy changes without meaningful consultation is likely to persist. Policy uncertainty and government efforts to squeeze more revenue from miners may deter large new mining investments in the short term. Much-needed spending on infrastructure and logistics will remain small, scattered and dependent on countries such as China and India.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 882-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sorokhaibam Khaba ◽  
Chandan Bhar

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to quantify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis for the Indian coal mining industry using Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory. Design/methodology/approach After obtaining 17 factors from literature and expert opinion, an interview questionnaire was designed and tested to assure the content validity of questionnaire. A group of 15 qualified experts consisting of 4 professors from academic institutions and 11 management professionals from mining sector with substantial experience were consulted. Findings The result from causal relationship implied that the decision makers should focus on improving the ability of exploitation and production using quality improvement initiative such as lean production, developing research and development units for clean coal technology and working with strong exporters. This study also finds that foreign investment in mining sector is also a main factor that highly influences other factors. Research limitations/implications The study is based on personal judgments and the shortage of respondents limits the study to ensure the validity. Practical implications The stated strategies both for the government and industry through SWOT analysis could facilitate improved productivity of the Indian coal industry if adopted. Originality/value This paper demonstrates a process for quantitative SWOT analysis for the Indian coal mining industry that can be performed even when there is dependence among factors.


Subject Energy outlook. Significance During his first year in government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has enthusiastically advocated renewable energy, particularly solar. His administration has publicly backed renewables as a solution to reducing India's dependence on fossil fuel and to achieving universal electricity access by 2019. To this end, the April 2015-March 2016 budget announced in February set an ambitious and unprecedented target for renewable energy. Impacts India is predicted to overtake China as the main driver of world coal consumption by around 2025. Delhi may use its rhetorical push on renewables to negotiate for moderate pledges on cutting emissions at the Paris climate talks. Deep reliance on imported coal will expose Indian importers and consumers to price volatility and policy changes of exporting countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sorokhaibam Khaba ◽  
Chandan Bhar ◽  
Ankita Ray

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to identify and study the contextual relationships of the significant lean enablers in the Indian coal mining industry using the application of interpretive structural modeling (ISM), matrice d' impacts croisés-multiplication appliquée á un classement (MICMAC) and structural equation modeling (SEM).Design/methodology/approachIn this study, a conceptual model based on ISM was developed forming a hierarchy and contextual relationships of significant enablers for lean implementation in the Indian coal mining industry using a literature review and eliciting expert opinion, which is followed by MICMAC for grouping of enablers and questionnaire survey to validate the ISM based conceptual model using SEM.FindingsThe study modeled and analyzed ten significant enablers of lean implementation in the Indian coal mining industry. The findings suggest that the most important lean enablers in the Indian coal mining industry are employee empowerment, employee motivation and commitment, consistent financial performance measurement and management support.Research limitations/implicationsJudgmental sampling was used for selecting the respondents for conducting the questionnaire survey in this research work as there are a few numbers of coal mines implementing lean principles in India. Although the study was not restricted to a particular part of India with the sample representing the heterogeneous population, the study represents more data from the coal mines in eastern India.Practical implicationsThe model on lean enablers would help the researchers, decision-makers and practitioners to anticipate potential lean enablers in the Indian coal mines and rank the enablers for improved and efficient usage of the available resources creating value to customers with lean and to sustenance academic research on lean.Originality/valueStudies on lean enablers in the mining sector are scarce in the literature, and this study is a novel contribution of exploring lean enablers in the Indian coal mining industry using an integrated approach of ISM–MICMAC and SEM.


2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Józef Dubiński ◽  
Marian Turek

Abstract The actual situation of hard coal mining in Poland has been presented. In particular, these factors, which have impact on the competiveness of mining sector were highlighted and need of its improving has been stressed. Outlining present situation of hard coal mining an attention was paid to its specific threats. The primary analytical material is based on the results of questionnaire conducted among 92 specialists and experts from the mining sector. The questions were related to chances and threats for development of hard coal mining in Poland. The factors determining them were grouped in such domains as economy, technology, geology, social and law aspects. Moreover, the special attention was paid to the problem of increasing and high costs of coal production which constitute significant threat for the financial and economic situation of the mining enterprises. Also the adverse influence of these high cost on the competitiveness of Polish hard coal with other world producers and with other energy carriers was emphasized. The conclusions summarize the achieved results of analysis.


Significance Comparisons with two formerly fast-growing Asian neighbours, Japan and South Korea, suggest that China will continue to slow for another decade. Analysis of global growth trends over 50 years points to a strong force of ‘regression to the mean’, meaning that continued high-speed growth is statistically unlikely. Impacts Continued Chinese economic slowing will reduce global demand for resources such as iron ore and coal. Achieving productivity growth will require deepening reforms to increase the role of the market, the private sector and competition. World Bank economists emphasise that imposing stricter financial discipline is a key step to enhancing market-based productivity gains.


Author(s):  
Branislav Ftorek ◽  
Milan Saga ◽  
Pavol Orsansky ◽  
Jan Vittek ◽  
Peter Butko

Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the two energy saving position control strategies for AC drives valid for a wide range of boundary conditions including an analysis of their energy expenses. Design/methodology/approach For energy demands analysis, the optimal energy control based on mechanical and electrical losses minimization is compared with the near-optimal one based on symmetrical trapezoidal speed profile. Both control strategies respect prescribed maneuver time and define acceleration profile for preplanned rest-to-rest maneuver. Findings Presented simulations confirm lower total energy expenditures of energy optimal control if compared with near-optimal one, but the differences are only small due to the fact that two energy saving strategies are compared. Research limitations/implications Developed overall control system consisting of energy saving profile generator, pre-compensator and position control system respecting principles of field-oriented control is capable to track precomputed state variables precisely. Practical implications Energy demands of both control strategies are verified and compared to simulations and preliminary experiments. The possibilities of energy savings were confirmed for both control strategies. Originality/value Experimental verification of designed control structure is sufficiently promising and confirmed assumed energy savings.


Author(s):  
Guangzhen Wu ◽  
David A. Makin ◽  
Yongtao Li ◽  
Francis D. Boateng ◽  
Gassan Abess

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the contours of police integrity among Chinese police officers. Specifically, this study explores how Chinese police evaluate integrity based on official policy governing interactions, discipline governing infractions, views of seriousness, and willingness to inform when others engage in misconduct. Design/methodology/approach In total, 353 police officers were surveyed representing those attending in-service training program at a Chinese police university in May 2015. Questionnaires containing 11 scenarios describing police misbehaviors were distributed to officers during classes. Findings There was a strong correlation between officers’ perceptions of rule-violation, misconduct seriousness, discipline, and willingness to report. Additionally, preliminary results suggest there exists a code of silence among Chinese officers, and that Chinese officers hold a lenient attitude toward the use of excessive force. Research limitations/implications This study utilizes a convenient sample, which restricts the generalizability of the results. Practical implications The results indicate the existence of code of silence among Chinese officers and their lenient attitude toward the use of excessive force. Originality/value Although there has been a growing body of research examining police integrity in both western democracies and transitional societies, China as the largest developing nation in the world and with a unique police system (falls somewhere between the centralized model and the integrated model) is understudied. This study addresses this gap in previous literature by exploring the contours of police integrity among Chinese police officers.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manzamasso Hodjo ◽  
Acharya Ram ◽  
Don Blayney ◽  
Tebila Nakelse

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate how climatic, market and policy factors interact to determine food production in Togo. Specifically, we estimate acreage and yield response to market prices, weather and policy changes for maize and rice.Design/methodology/approachWe use panel data estimators in a Seemingly Unrelated Regressions Equation (SURE) model with region-level data from the Food and Agriculture Organization statistics department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the US Department of commerce.FindingsWe found lower fertilizer price and higher grain price effects on maize acreage and yield. In addition, we found a positive effect of expected rice price on both its acreage and yield. As expected, rainfall during planting months has a significant impact on both maize (April) and paddy (May) acreage allocations. Similarly, total rainfall during the growing season has a positive impact on both maize and paddy yields. Moreover, recent agricultural policy initiative designed to boost domestic food production has significantly increased acreage and yield for maize, and yield for paddy, especially the strategy for agricultural growth.Research limitations/implicationsThe dataset includes region-level observations from 1991 to 2012 which limits the observation span. However, we had enough variability in key variables to determine the estimated coefficients.Practical implicationsAlthough the dataset is limited in time (1991–2012) and uses national-level output prices, this investigation reveals that cropland allocation to maize and rice is sensitive to fertilizer and grain prices, weather expectations and policy interventions. These findings provide evidence for sustainable food production and productivity enhancement in Togo.Social implicationsUnderstanding drivers of cropland allocation and cereal yield contribute to better food security and poverty reduction in developing countries, especially Togo.Originality/valuePrior to this study, little was known on the effect of price, climate and policy on cropland allocation in Togo. This investigation contributes significantly to filling this knowledge gap and provides insights for effective interventions.


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