Flood Hit The Northern and Eastern Aceh

Heavy rains have hit the northern and eastern Aceh on Sunday (27/9) night until early Monday caused North Aceh district, East Aceh, Langsa, and the upstream region of Aceh Tamiang surrounded flood. Hundreds of homes and hundreds of hectares of rice crops submerged citizens, a dam burst, but no casualties.
In North Aceh, the impact of flooding are felt in dozens of villages in the District Lhoksukon, Matangkuli, Cot Girek, and Pirak Timu. This is because, the river that surrounds the four districts that overflow during heavy rains.
In Sub Cot Girek, high water in the house residents reached 50 cm. In Sub Lhoksukon eight villages submerged due to levee Krueng Peuto at three points, namely in the village of Babah Geudubang along 200 meters, in the village of Teungoh 30 meters, and in the village of Krueng about 20 meters.
Km road along the region of 4 to 7 submerged as high as 40 cm. While the water level in homes varies, ranging from 50 cm to 100 cm.
Matangkuli in the area, the water level reached 1.5 meters on the street, as seen in the village Alue Tho, Lawang, and Siren, so that the flow of transportation in the region paralyzed.
In Sub Pirak Timu eleven villages flooded by high water in the homes of 60 to 120 cm.
Of Langsa reported, a number of public roads in the town center and village roads, since Sunday (27/9) night submerged as high as 60 cm. This happens pascahujan Torrential Langsa region.
Entering Monday (28/9) morning, Watershed (DAS) Krueng Langsa even overflowing, along with the tide. As a result, dozens of homes are located in the riverside area of ​​Tanjung Disconnect, Gampong Java, District Langsa Kota submerged 1 meter. Some residents were forced to leave home, stay home to relatives waiting for the water to recede.

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Floods Hit the Road Teunom - Meulaboh

 




"The water began to recede slowly around 17:00 pm from a height of 50 cm above the water body Country road in Baro. Stagnant water this time not so difficult for road users, because it is still drivable vehicles, but some residents who fear the bike off the water, immediately pushed myself, "said Rizal Dinata, Chief RAPI Aceh Jaya, who is also a member of the local parliament that monitors conditions flooding on Saturday (18/04/2015),around 17:30 pm.



















Otherwise, flooding is not only in Teunom, but originated from the sub Pasie Kingdom, these conditions lead to thousands of homes were flooded in the district participated Pasie elections held since 02.00 am in the morning.
Head of the DistrictDisaster Management Agency (CAL), Aceh Jaya Amren glaze to Serambinews.com, say, the number of villages inundated with details in the Village District
Pasie Kingdom 65 High Island home, Tuwi Peria 20, Tuwi Kareung 25. While in Teunom Blang Baro include 120 houses, Rambong Palos 116, 142 Gadeng Tring,
Pasie handler 87, Baro 109, Pasie Geulima 118, Bala Dagan Pasie 98, 80 and Pasie Tanoh Noe Timon 52 units. (*)source :http://aceh.tribunnews.com

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Pertamina's Aceh LNG hub seen online in 2014 - executive

Dec 18 (Reuters) - Indonesian state oil and gas company Pertamina said on Wednesday its liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification and modified storage facility at the Arun plant in Aceh is on schedule to come online from 2014.
The hub will cost more than $80 million and include a 3 million tonne per year regasification unit and alterations to its current 600,000 cubic meter LNG storage facility.
"Our objective in building this LNG hub in Arun is for the energy security of Indonesia," Salis Aprilian, senior vice president for engineering & operation management of gas at Pertamina, told Reuters.
"If we have LNG storage, we can supply gas anytime we need it," he said, adding that LNG for the hub will be sourced from both domestic supplies and imports.
The LNG regasification plant will come online in 2014, followed by the modified storage facility in 2015.
Earlier this month, Indonesia signed its first LNG import deal, signaling the beginning of a sea change for a country that has been one of the top exporters of the fuel for decades.
The Arun plant, which is majority owned by Pertamina, with ExxonMobil and Japan Indonesia LNG Company also holding stakes, currently has six trains, five LNG storage tanks, and four liquefied petroleum gas storage tanks.
It currently processes natural gas into LNG, mostly for export, and while the new hub will be able to still feed export markets, it will focus on supplying rising domestic demand.
Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, wants to tap its abundant gas supply and move away from oil as it grapples with record subsidy bills and a trade deficit resulting from costly fuel imports.
Although Indonesian LNG production is set to decline this year, with the country producing 318 cargoes compared with 332 last year, the country is keeping 29 cargoes for domestic use compared to 14 last year. (Reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Michael Taylor and Rebekah Kebede; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) http://www.reuters.com

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Japex sets date for Canada oil sand investment decision

Aug 5 (Reuters) - Japan Petroleum Exploration will make a final investment decision on its Hangingstone oil sand expansion project in Canada this autumn or winter after Canadian government approval expected this autumn, a company executive said on Friday.
The company currently plans to complete the front-end engineering design (FEED) on the project, expected to cost around 60 billion yen ($760 million), in autumn or winter, delayed from its initial plan of by the end of June, Japex Executive Vice President Hiroshi Sato said.
Japex, which is currently producing about 7,000 barrels per day of bitumen from the Hangingstone oil sands, is considering expanding output by an average 25,000 to 30,000 bpd.
The Tokyo-based oil and gas developer last year asked for Canadian government approval to expand bitumen output from the project by up to 35,000 bpd and is expected to obtain the approval this autumn, Sato said.
The company repeated that it expects to begin output in 2014 if it receives approval in the autumn.
A Japex subsidiary owns a 75 percent stake in the project, while Nexen Inc has the rest.
In Indonesia, Japex and its consortium plan to conduct an experimental drilling this year at block A in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, in which JAPEX holds a 16.7 percent stake, Sato told Reuters.
Japex had been considering the investment in the block after winning a 20-year gas field contract extension last year. PT Medco Energi International held a 41.7 percent stake in the block and is its operator. The remainder is held by Britain's Premier Oil . ($1 = 79.020 Japanese Yen) (Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Michael Watson)

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Natural Disaster Loss Equals Financial Crisis

VIVAnews – The Natural Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) revealed that the loss due to the natural disasters in some Asia Pacific countries approximately of 1 percent on average of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In the case of Indonesia, from the tsunami disaster in Aceh to the eruption of Mount Merapi, the loss and damage caused by the natural disasters were estimated to total Rp95.96 trillion. Meanwhile, the government’s budget for disaster relief is only Rp4 trillion a year.

"For Indonesia, the impacts of the disasters are very palpable. The impacts are enormous," said BNPB Head of Information Data and Public Relations Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, in a press statement received by VIVAnews.com, Thursday, August 4, 2011.

Quoting the 2011 Global Assessment Report (GAR), BNPB stated the loss due to the catastrophes amounted to 1 percent of the GDP annually, equivalent to the losses suffered by the countries experiencing the global financial crisis in 1980 and the 1990s.

In fact, according to Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2010 report prepared by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) and United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, noted that the Asia-Pacific region, including Indonesia, produced a quarter of the world’s GDP.

However, the report says that in the last 30 years, 85 percent of deaths and 38 percent of global economic losses were caused by the natural disasters that hit the region.

"The potential economic disruption in social life is always there for the people living in disaster-prone areas such as Indonesia. The risk of natural disasters causes negative effects on development, especially economic," said Sutopo.

He deemed that Indonesia has suffered the economic impact of natural disasters, including when the tsunami hit Indonesia in 2004. At that time, the damage and economic losses due to the disaster was estimated to be Rp39 trillion.

Indonesia also had to go back to bear the economic losses after succeeding disasters hit the country. BNPB’s data shows that the earthquake in Yogyakarta and Central Java in 2006 caused losses and damages amounting to Rp27 trillion, the Jakarta flood in 2007 Rp4.8 trillion, the West Sumatra earthquake in 2009 Rp21.6 trillion, and the eruption of Merapi in 2010 excluding the impact of lava Rp3, 56 trillion.

"Compare this with the cost of building the Suramadu bridge of around Rp4.5 trillion and that of Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR) phase II stretching for 122.6 kilometers of Rp5 trillion. This means the impact of the disasters slows the pace of development down," said Sutopo.

This is in spite of, said Sutopo, the government's ability to allocate disaster reserve funds each year of only around Rp4 trillion. Moreover the funds are used for the relief of all disasters, be it of large or small scaled, that happened in all over Indonesia.

“We need to increase the allocation of these funds, or develop a mechanism of post-disaster funding systems, such as disaster insurance of which the premium is borne by the government," he said.

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Aceh may use Penang to market oil and gas

GEORGE TOWN: Indonesia’s Aceh Province is considering using Penang as a base to market and distribute its oil and gas in the region. Aceh governor Irwandi Yusuf told a press conference that he would study soon the details of the plan, which would include investment in infrastructure and other supporting facilities.

“We hope to implement the business plan as soon as possible. This is the first government-to-government cooperation that Aceh is looking into. “Other areas of cooperation that Aceh and Penang can work on include tourism and port development,” he said.

Irwandi said this at a briefing after signing a MoU with investPenang executive committee chairman Datuk Lee Kah Choon to promote collaborative and joint business and investment projects between Penang and Aceh.

Also present was Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who had offered Penang as a platform for Aceh to distribute oil and gas in the region at the Penang-Aceh Business Investment Dialogue meeting held earlier in the morning.

Irwandi said Aceh currently had five oil and gas projects with Exxon Mobil.

PT ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia expects gas production of 278 million cu ft per day from Aceh field in 2010.

According to the peace treaty signed in Helsinki in 2005, Aceh is entitled to 70% of the revenue generated from oil and gas exports.

“The revenue generated from the sales of oil and gas resources will go back to Aceh. Penang will only lend Aceh its expertise in marketing and distribution of the resources,” Lim said.

He added that consent would be required from the Federal Government for Penang to be used as a base to distribute oil and gas.

“Tourism, medical and health tourism, international education, and halal industry are areas in which Penang has expertise that can be shared with Aceh,” he said. http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/9/21/business/7070538&sec=business

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Aceh merupakan provinsi Indonesia yang terletak di ujung barat Pulau Sumatera. Sebenarnya daerah ini memiliki banyak obyek tujuan wisata, mulai obyek wisata pantai seperti pantai Lhok-Nga yang indah nan elok berpasir putih dengan pemandangan perbukitan di sekitarnya, menyajikan lokasi wisata yang tak kalah dari Bali, hingga obyek wisata pegunungan. NAD memiliki danau laut tawar di pegunungan pada ketinggian 1100 m di atas permukaan laut. Panjang danau tersebut mencapai 26 km dengan lebar 5 km, dan kedalamannya 50 m. Danau Laut Tawar ini terletak di daerah Takengon, Aceh Tengah. Anda juga dapat mengunjungi kolam Sumber Air Panas yang berlokasi di Simpang Balik, kira-kira 14 km dari Takengon. Kolam ini sering dikunjungi oleh wisatwan lokal dan asing, penduduk lokal sendiri mempercayai bahwa kolam air panas tersebut dapat mengobati beberapa jenis penyakit kulit.

Selain wisata alam, ada juga obyek wisata sejarah seperti Rumah Adat Tjut Meutia, seorang pahlawan Nasional wanita dari Aceh. Rumah adat tersebut berada di kecamatan Matangkuli, desa Pirak. Obyek wisata sejarah lainnya adalah Museum Tsunami (yaitu Museum yang dibuat untuk mengenang tragedi badai Tsunami pada desember 2004 lalu), Meseum Aceh, Lonceng Cakra Donya (yang merupakan hadiah pemberian dari raja Cina pada tahun 1414 M), Taman Sari Gunongan (salah satu peninggalan kerajaan Kesultanan Iskandar Muda yang biasa digunakan sebagai sarana/tempat rekreasi anggota keluarga Kerajaan pada masa itu. Gunongan adalah simbol gunung yang merupakan bagian dari Taman Istana Kesultanan Aceh).

Dan bagi anda yang memiliki adrenalin tinggi, anda juga dapat menikmati objek wisata Air Terjun 7 ( Tujuh ) Tingkatan, yang merupakan simbol 7 tingkatan langit. Disamping itu anda juga bisa menikmati fasilitas arum jeram, dengan aliran sungai yang bisa memacu laju adrenalin anda!

Bagi kaum muslim yang ingin berwisata Rohani, anda bisa mengunjungi Mesjid Agung Baiturrahman, yang merupakan salah satu Mesjid Termegah di Asia Tenggara. Bukan hanya mesjid ini yang merupakan mesjid bersejarah di Aceh, masih banyak mesjid bersejarah lainnya. Selain itu anda dapat berkunjung ke Makam Syah Kuala (Syah Kuala Merupakan Ulama Besar daerah Aceh Pada Abad ke 17, yang nama aslinya adalah Syech Abdurrauf bin Ali Al Fansuri As-Singkili). Beliau sangat gigih dalam menyebarkan agama Islam dan menjalankan Syariat di tanah Aceh sehingga dipercaya menjadi Kadhi Malikul Adil yaitu setingkat dengan Mahkamah Agung pada masa Kerajaan Aceh Darussalam.

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REDD and Aceh Green Commision

Since the signing agreement/understanding on carbon trade with some parties, the Aceh Governor, of Indonesia, has become more popular in the world. The agreement bound a partnership with private companies such as Carbon Conservation Ltd (CC) and Merryl Lynch initiating restoring and funding scheme. The CC’s contract focuse in the Ulu Masen Conservation (UMC) region while the Sustainable Forest Management(SFM) ltd. Is applying for an investment right in the Leuser Ecosystem Region.

Something funny in the recent world scheme of carbon trading, more popular called as the Reduction Emission form Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Though the legal implementation will be conducted after 2012, many financial private company, known as Trans National Corporations (TNCs), claim a particular forest region in some nations as their project location. For example, as shown in their website, the SFM claim the Leuser Ecosystem Region (LER), of Indonesia, as their project area while in fact their proposal is still being processed by the Aceh Investment and Promotion Board. Stating the LER as their project area may block other international parties to participate in.

Domestically, the legal status and mandatory indicators of some potentially forested area of Aceh, for instance, the LER, the UMC, and Tripa swamp, is not clear yet to be incorporated as global REDD scheme as shown in Progress REDD table for some potential REDD or CDM in Aceh, of Indonesia. The REDD Proposal for the Ulu Masen Conservation region have passed audit process by smartwood but the management board is not yet formed. A management board for The Leuser Ecosystem exists but other conditional indicators have not been established. The Tripa swamp has project plan proposal but it has no management board.

It is obvious that the REDD philosophy, its potential for caring Aceh forest and the challenges are not yet socialized among provincial environmental stakeholders. Some prospectors, NGOs and government’s departmental leaders simply saw provincial forest as source of money throughout the recently unclear global REDD scheme. Support the REDD idea with avoidance of other socio-economic function of forest land. Other parties are opposing the REDD regarding local people rights (carbon rights), being afraid for the weakening of their institutional power.

To be work well, the Aceh Government need to synchronies’ national Acts and other policy with provincial legislation. Unfortunately, no one provincial legislation have been enacted. Recently, a Governor’s degree is being processed and parallel with the formulating of the Commission of Aceh Green. In accordance with the Department of Forestry (DoF) of Indonesia’s REDD commission, the Aceh Green Commission should be more perfect and more effective as it will be implemented at more specific area.

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Aceh Green

Aceh’s Governor Irwandi enjoys political credibility with his electorate (38% of the post-conflict vote) and environmental credibility as a “Green Governor”, championing a healthy environment as a basis for long-term economic development. So far, so good. What’s the problem?

Sadly, the problem lies within the peace process. Prolonged conflict constrained destruction of natural resources; peace unleashed the demon of uncontrolled exploitation. The Governor instituted a logging moratorium along with a comprehensive review of the forest sector. The stakes are high, and not only for a healthy environment. The carbon wrapped up within Aceh’s forests “ups the ante” and could provide an economic incentive for their protection. Aceh’s Ulu Masen forest complex has just received the first certification as a site where the world could invest in avoiding destruction through carbon credits:

http://ecosystemmarketplace.com/index.php

Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - The Multi Donor Fund (MDF) through the World Bank is this year to provide US$1.47 million or over Rp13 billion in funds to support Aceh province`s "Aceh Green" policy as part of the Aceh Forest Environment Project (AFEP).

Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf recently held a meeting on MDF`s financial support for the AFEP with representatives of MDF, the World Bank, the Leuser International Foundation (YLI) and Flora and Fauna International (FFI), Chik Rini, a YLI spokesperson said here on Wednesday.

The MDF fully supported the Green Aceh plan and would spend around 21.15 percent of AFEP`s 2008 budget totaling US$6.965 million on the program, she said.

AFEP`s main activities include monitoring of forest areas, public awareness campaigns, development of local people`s income sources.

"This project is one of the largest in the conservation field in Indonesia," she said.

In the Leuser ecosystem area, the AFEP project would be carried out by YLI and in Ulu Masen area by FFI. The forestry project was started in 2005 and would be concluded in 2010, she said.(*)


http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/2/13/mdf-to-provide-147-million-for-aceh-green-program/

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Aceh Green

Aceh’s Governor Irwandi enjoys political credibility with his electorate (38% of the post-conflict vote) and environmental credibility as a “Green Governor”, championing a healthy environment as a basis for long-term economic development. So far, so good. What’s the problem?

Sadly, the problem lies within the peace process. Prolonged conflict constrained destruction of natural resources; peace unleashed the demon of uncontrolled exploitation. The Governor instituted a logging moratorium along with a comprehensive review of the forest sector. The stakes are high, and not only for a healthy environment. The carbon wrapped up within Aceh’s forests “ups the ante” and could provide an economic incentive for their protection. Aceh’s Ulu Masen forest complex has just received the first certification as a site where the world could invest in avoiding destruction through carbon credits:

http://ecosystemmarketplace.com/index.php

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