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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, 01 May 12
VIETNAM FEARS IT MAY NOT SEEK COAL SUPPLIES - TBKTSG / VIETNAMNET BRIDGE
TBKTSG / VietNamNet Bridge reported that, with five coal-run thermopower plants under construction, PetroVietnam alone would need 18 million tons of ...
Sunday, 29 April 12
THE FREIGHT MARKET EXPECTED TO BE STEADY NEXT WEEK - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - The BDI continued to go up with the support of Panamax/Supramax and was up by 8.34 pct closing at 1,156 points.
The cape index was ...
Sunday, 29 April 12
INDONESIAN SUB-BITUMINOUS COAL SWAPS FOR MAY 2012 DELIVERY WAS STABLE THIS WEEK
COALspot.com - Indonesian sub-bituminous coal swaps for May deliveries stable this week, according to DSP of SGX AsiaClear OTC Coal Swaps. In the me ...
Friday, 27 April 12
BUKIT ASAMS NET INCOME UP 14% IN 1Q 2012 (UNAUDITED)
Press Release - PT Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk, announced the Consolidated Financial Statements and Subsidiaries per 31 March 2012 (Unaudited).
Reve ...
Thursday, 26 April 12
AUSTRALIAS COKAL EXPANDS MET COAL POTENTIAL INTO WEST KALIMANTAN
COALspot.com - Global metallurgical coal group Cokal Limited (Cokal) (ASX:CKA) announced today it has completed the acquisition of 75.2% of PT Silan ...
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- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Planning Commission, India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- PTC India Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- White Energy Company Limited
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
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