We welcome article submissions from experts in the areas of coal, mining,
shipping, etc.
To Submit your article please click here.
|
|
|
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.
If you believe an article violates your rights or the rights of others, please contact us.
|
|
Friday, 20 April 12
PANAMAXES LEAD DRY BULK MARKET TO HIGHER GROUND - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
A rebound of demand for smaller dry bulk carriers has led the industry’s benchmark, the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) above the 1,000-point mark for ...
Friday, 20 April 12
BUMA HAS PRODUCED 2.6 MILLION TONS OF COAL IN MARCH 2012
COALspot.com - BUMA has removed 28.0 million bcm (+6.4% YoY) of overburden in March 2012 while coal production was at 2.6 million tons (+1.3% YoY).
...
Thursday, 19 April 12
FRESH COAL SALES FROM JATENERGYS JONGKANG MINES
COALspot.com - Energy company Jatenergy Ltd (ASX code JAT) announced today that it had signed a contract for an 11,000 tonne coal sale due for shipm ...
Thursday, 19 April 12
HANDY - 'POSITIVE TREND', PANAMAX - 'A FIRMER TENDENCY', CAPESIZE - 'AGAIN NEGATIVE'
Handy
The positive trend from last week continued, with more cargoes entering the market. Skaw/Passero del fixed tick above USD 4000 for US Gulf di ...
Thursday, 19 April 12
WILLIS MARINE MARKET REVIEW FORECASTS ANOTHER DIFFICULT YEAR - WILLIS GLOBAL MARINE / HELLENIC SHIPPING
After an inauspicious start, 2012 could well be "another difficult and uncertain year for the maritime industry faced with the aftermath of the ...
|
|
|
Showing 4761 to 4765 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- The University of Queensland
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- PTC India Limited - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Planning Commission, India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Australian Coal Association
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
|
| |
| |
|
