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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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Thursday, 26 April 12
BUKIT ASAMS 1Q OPERATING PROFIT MARGIN HAS INCREASED BY 6% TO RP. 1 TRILLION
COALspot.com - PT. Bukit Asam (Persero), the Indonesia’s state owned coal miner's 1Q, 2012 revenue has increased by 31% to Rp. 3.02 trillion ...
Thursday, 26 April 12
TAIPOWER TO BUY 1.15 MILLION TONS OF 5000 GAR COAL
COALspot.com - Taiwan Power Company intends to procure 1.125million tons of sub-bituminous coal for Taipower thermal power plant through open tender ...
Thursday, 26 April 12
TAIPOWER TO BUY 375,000 MT OF 4800 GAR COAL
COALspot.com - Taiwan Power Company intends to procure 375,000 metric tons of low sulfur sub-bituminous coal for Taipower thermal power plant ...
Thursday, 26 April 12
ADK SHIPPED 28,000 TONNES OF COAL THIS MONTH
COALspot.com - Orpheus Energy (ASX:OEG) has announced that four coal barges carrying a total of approximately 28,000 tonnes of ADK (Alam Duta K ...
Thursday, 26 April 12
DRY BULK CARRIERS RENTER FLEET AFTER IDLING, ON MARKETS RECOVERY - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market seems to be back on track, not only solidifying the gains of the past couple of weeks, but also racing to new heights, recuperra ...
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- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Australian Coal Association
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
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