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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, 08 May 12
DRY BULK MARKET LOOKING FOR NEW DIRECTION THIS WEEK - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
With the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) the main benchmark of the dry bulk shipping industry not traded at the start of this week, traders, charterers and s ...
Monday, 07 May 12
INDONESIAN HBA FALL AGAIN IN MAY 2012
COALspot.com - Indonesian HBA fall again to lowest level since January 2011 in May 2012. The monthly coal reference price for coal sales in Ma ...
Sunday, 06 May 12
INDONESIAN SUB-BITUMINOUS COAL & CFR SOUTH CHINA SWAPS SLIGHTLY DROP THIS WEEK
COALspot.com - Indonesian sub-bituminous coal swaps and CFR South China coal contracts for June deliveries slightly dropped this week.
According ...
Sunday, 06 May 12
S7 & S8 ROUTES LIKELY TO BE FIRM NEXT WEEK VISTAAR SINGAPORE
COALspot.com - The BDI remained flat this week and was up just by 1 point closing at 1,157 points.
The cape size index was up by 5.14 pct closing ...
Sunday, 06 May 12
EXPORT DUTY ON MINERAL FINALLY TO BECOME EFFECTIVE NEXT WEEK
COALspot.com - Mineral ore exporters of Indonesia ( only IUP holders) are required to obtain recommendation letter from the energy and mineral ...
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- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- White Energy Company Limited
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Planning Commission, India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- The University of Queensland
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Australian Coal Association
- MS Steel International - UAE
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
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