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Monday, 20 February 12
COAL BOOM AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN - SUNIL K KUMBHAT
 COALspot.com - The dawn of the 21st century has seen a shift in the world's commercial balance of power, with the dominance of the US, Europe and Japan challenged by the rapid industrialisation of hungry new economies. The rise of the so-called BRIIC nations - Brazil, Russia, India ,Indonesia and China - is giving birth to new global financial centres, vibrant industrial markets and above all surging demand for raw materials to supply new projects.
But where does environmental responsibility fit into this drive for resources?
Growing demand for thermal Coal has created a new coal boom, which is great news for Coal producing countries such as Indonesia, Australia , south Africa . The demand of coal is growing at a massive rate in Asia particularly India and China. Both the coal hungry countries are making efforts to secure supplies by acquiring Coal mines or forming Joint ventures for their new power generating plants.
The demand is fuelling the world prices of coal, although prices are still not as high as witnessed in 2008 when everything peaked before the global financial crisis but there all indications that by 2012/2013 coal prises will reach to record high.
The India and China are becoming the mainstay of the market . Both the countries are having huge Coal reserves ,but still they are importing huge qty of coal to meet there increased demand and as such they are effectively driving the world Coal market and its prices. India’s demand for coal is expected to grow at a faster rate than any other country in the world.
India's rich untapped mineral resources of more than 20 mineral types - including gold, copper, coal and bauxite but the fact that many of these resources are located in rural, heavily forested areas with predominantly tribal populations has raised concerns over the environmental impact of mining operations.
The country has a long history of environmental damage caused by both domestic and international mining companies, as well as the ecological problems from hundreds of abandoned mines in areas like Bihar's Jharia and Rhaniganj coal fields. Like China, India has been plagued by the environmental problems associated with illegal and unlicensed mining operations, which the country's Directorate General of Mines Safety has been ill-equipped to deal with due to funding deficiencies.
Similarly China has come under fire from human rights activists and environmental groups alike for its arguably lax approach to both worker safety (the country has become the mining disaster capital of the world in recent years) and environmental accountability. The Chinese Government's approach to corporate and environmental responsibility has been characterised by outside observers as simply paying lip service to the environment - hinting that ISO guidelines for mining would be welcomed - without implementing practical measures to promote change.
The environmental impact of mining operations in Brazil is also under sharper scrutiny than many other countries, primarily because its borders contain the lion's share of the Amazon rainforest, a haven for biodiversity and one of the most important eco-systems in the world.
As such, environmental awareness is particularly strong in the Brazilian mining industry. Experts from the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards are playing a leadership role in the further development of the recently introduced ISO 26000 international standard on social responsibility. Furthermore, licensing for new mining projects is often legally conditional on the drafting of comprehensive environmental impact studies, reports and extensive public consultations, particularly in areas inhabited by tribal groups.
Although carrying out mining operations in a region like the Amazon will be controversial, the environmental commitment seen here and echoed by many other Brazilian mining companies (including industry giant Vale, which has a complex environmental quality management system based on ISO 14001 standards) provides a useful model of awareness for other BRIC nations, and the global mining industry in general, to follow.
India is emerging as a fast economy, targeting 9-10% annual growth. Realizing the underlying growth potential will largely depend on it's ability to meet energy requirements. Energy sector whose growth targets inter alia depend on coal. At a 9% growth rate, the capacity requirement will be 960Gw and energy requirement will be 4,806 billion kWh. In the light of these projections, coal demand is estimated to rise many fold. Main concentration of Indian companies remains in Indonesia as many new mines are opened for exploration , exploitation and production .Today Indonesia is one of the most rapidly developing coal producing country in the world.
For a strong economy, one needs strong infrastructure and power plants. For strong infrastructure and power plants , one needs steel. Steel is the backbone of an economy, and it is metallurgical coal and thermal coal that is used to produce steel and electricity.
An increase in Coal production is the opposite of what the global climate change forums have wanted to see because coal without any doubt is one of the dirtiest and filthiest fossil fuel in terms of CO2 and when it comes to harmful emissions that most environmentalists and energy economists agree causes global warming.
Coal consumption is going in a direction that policy makers would prefer it not to go.
Critical question is whether there is a willingness amongst coal producers and power generating plants to make their technology cleaner, so it emits less greenhouse gases(GHG) which leads to global warming .Energy scientists have long been voicing concern on the rise in the level of Greenhouse gases, which leads to Global warming and climatic changes that are detrimental to economies worldwide.
The disastrous consequences for global climate change is one topic that has now taken very serious dimension but hardly been realised in a serious enough way by the nations across the world.
The new thermal plants being built are certainly more efficient than older ones. There exist technology to have emission-free power plants - the only constraint is the cost. The cost of clean coal technology is very high, yet when we look at the alternatives to coal, they are even higher than that - for example, nuclear, solar, wind. The real costs of all these alternatives are still to be determined, but there is no doubt that clean coal technologies can double the cost of coal in generating energy.
None of the alternatives appears to be commercially viable right now for required generation of energy without considering subsidies and tax incentives . If any country accepts sustainable growth and development as the way forward, it subsumes the climate change issues.
At the same time, no country can ignore the inherent contradiction in the expression ‘sustainable growth’.
Growth essentially involves exploiting natural resources for human benefit and countries have to strike a delicate balance between environmental sustainability and economic growth. It is easier said than done.
As the climate issue impinges on everyone, wisdom demands that nations sink their petty differences in approach and strategy to stem the danger from spreading further and squeezing the survival prospects of one and all.
Principally, the efforts boil down to reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, caused primarily by accelerated economic development through exploitation of fossil fuels rich in carbon dioxide.
Every action does not need to be official or based on protocols. In any case, every country need to adopt new methods and ways of doing things in optimising the use of exhaustible resources, energy and water. Corporations / Institutions must carry out energy analysis and incorporate environmental accounting practices to reduce green house gas emission levels at their facilities. The government, in turn, could enforce a form of taxation based on companies’ contribution to climate change.
Climate change is today's biggest problem, threatening mankind with extinction. The problem, largely of man's own doing, must be treated as an emergency by all.
The president of Indonesia issued a Presidential decree instructing all central and regional authorities to support the moratorium by suspending the granting of permits for the use of “primary natural forests” for two years. This Presidential decree is part of Indonesia’s efforts to comply with the bilateral agreement between Indonesia and Norway on forest conservation.
Various governments worldwide are beginning to put regulations in place and to encourage development of more sustainable sources of power generation in order to protect populations worldwide from the immediate detrimental effects on life and health, and to protect the environment for future generation.
By : Sunil K Kumbhat , Jodhpur( Rajasthan ) India
Views expressed herein are personal views of the author and not that of COALspot.com.
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Tuesday, 15 May 12
POTENTIAL BOOM OF CHINAS COAL IMPORTS COULD PROVIDE FURTHER SUPPORT TO DRY BULK MARKET - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market has been moving sideways during the past week with the industry’s benchmark, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) losing 0.53% on th ...
Saturday, 12 May 12
THE SHIPPING MARKET IS UNLIKELY TO SEE A REBOUND ANYTIME SOON - VISTAAR SINGAPORE
COALspot.com - The BDI softened this week and it was down by 1.64 pct closing at 1,138 points.
The cape index was up by 2.41 pct closing at 1,61 ...
Friday, 11 May 12
POLITICAL CHANGES COULD LEAD TO TEMPORARY HALT IN SHIPPING INVESTMENTS - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The potential of changes of political leadership in many of the world’s leading economies could very well lead to significant shifts in the di ...
Thursday, 10 May 12
DRY BULK ERRATIC ON LACK OF DIRECTION - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market has kept up its erratic behavior as it went down again during yesterday’s session, on a lack of direct guidance in terms o ...
Wednesday, 09 May 12
COAL INDIA SIGNS FSAS WITH 13 POWER UNITS SO FAR - PTI
Press Trust of India has reported that, coal India has so far entered into fuel supply pacts with 13 power units, including Reliance Power's Rosa P ...
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- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- VISA Power Limited - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- White Energy Company Limited
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- The University of Queensland
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
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