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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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Wednesday, 04 April 12
CHURCHILL MINING TO ACCELERATE INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION AGAINST INDONESIA
Churchill Mining plc (AIM: CHL), advises that notations on the Indonesian Supreme Court's register of cases shows the Supreme Court has rejected th ...
Monday, 02 April 12
BANGLADESH EYEING INDONESIA FOR COAL
COALspot.com - The high level executives of Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) of Bangladesh is visiting Ind ...
Monday, 02 April 12
WEEKLY DRY MARKET OVERVIEW - MARIA BERTZELETOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The first quarter of the New Year ended with the BDI standing 42% above from the 26 years’ bottom low of 662 points on February 1st, and a pos ...
Saturday, 31 March 12
THE BDI CONTINUED TO MOVE UPWARD - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - The BDI continued to move upward and rose by 2.86 pct closing at 934 points.
The cape index was up by 3.14 pct closing at 1,412 po ...
Saturday, 31 March 12
SRI LANKA IMPORTS 152,555 MT OF INDONESIAN COAL IN FEBRUARY
COALspot.com: Indonesia, the world largest coal exporter, shipped 27.126* million tons of coal in February 2012, compared to 28.21* million to ...
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- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Parliament of New Zealand
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
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