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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, 15 March 12
RESOURCE ALAM FY11 PROFIT UP 171% - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, coal mining company PT Resource Alam Indonesia Tbk (KKGI) reported a 171.16% jump in net profit last year on the back ...
Wednesday, 14 March 12
GLOBAL THERMAL TRADE FLOW CHANGES WILL ENSURE SECURITY OF THERMAL COAL SUPPLY, ALBEIT AT A HIGH PRICE - WOOD MACKENZIE
Wood Mackenzie Says Global Thermal Trade Flow Changes Will Ensure Security of Thermal Coal Supply, Albeit At a High Price Seaborne thermal demand by ...
Wednesday, 14 March 12
COKAL TAKES ANOTHER STEP IN DEVELOPING INFRASTRUCTURE TO FACILITATE METALLURGICAL COAL PRODUCTION
Global coal group, Cokal Limited (ASX-CKA), has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU’s) to develop two river ports and two small scale coa ...
Tuesday, 13 March 12
CLARIFICATION OF GR 24 OF 2012 REQUIRING DIVESTMENT OF FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OVER TIME
ASX Announcement
Global metallurgical coal group, Cokal Limited (ASX-CKA), is responding to the recent announcement of the Indonesian Ministry of ...
Tuesday, 13 March 12
EUROPEAN COAL CONTANGO: FURTHER STEEPNESS REQUIRED TO MAKE LARGE SCALE PHYSICAL TIME SPREAD ARBITRAGE MORE ATTRACTIVE - MISWIN MAHESH, BARCLAYS CAPITAL
COALspot.com - "With the contango between the Y+1 and M+1 ARA delivered contract now averaging above the $14/t level, there is an increasing in ...
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Showing 4806 to 4810 news of total 6871 |
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- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Planning Commission, India
- Australian Coal Association
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- White Energy Company Limited
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
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