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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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Friday, 04 May 12
DEMOLITION KEY FOR DRY BULK MARKET RECOVERY - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The overflow of newbuilding vessels which “spilled over” into 2012 from 2011 brought the dry bulk market to a near collapse level at the ...
Thursday, 03 May 12
DRY BULK MARKET REMAINS INACTIVE, POSTING MILD DECREASE - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market has kept retreating this week, although at a very low pace, on the back of a lull in demand. The industry's benchmark, th ...
Thursday, 03 May 12
MINERS DEMAND LEGAL CERTAINTY ON PRE-BAN INTERIM POLICY - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post reported that, Mining companies represented by the Indonesian Mining Association (IMA) welcomed the government’s plan to impo ...
Thursday, 03 May 12
HANDY EAST COAST INDIA - CHINA AROUND USD 7000 - FEARNLEYS AS
Handy - Stable demand in the Atlantic offered good rates for the tonnage.
USG/Cont was worth USD 17500 and more. Baltic and Black Sea appeared to ...
Wednesday, 02 May 12
CHINA BLACKOUTS HIGHLIGHT PRICING POLICY WEAKNESS - FITCH
Fitch reported that, the likelihood of further electricity blackouts in China this summer underlines Fitch's view of the basic problem f ...
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- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- The University of Queensland
- Parliament of New Zealand
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- White Energy Company Limited
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
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