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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, 01 March 12
BUKIT ASAM TARGETS EUROPEAN INVESTORS
COALspot.com - PT. Bukit Asam (persero) Tbk, Indonesian state owned coal miner is planning to conduct road show in Europe next week to target at Eur ...
Thursday, 01 March 12
INDO-INDIA, LARGE ECO SUPRA CAN FETCH CLOSE TO USD 9K DOP N.CHINA - FEARNLEYS AS
Handy
The Atlantic Handysize market did not see any signs for recovery this week. It is still a major lack of spot cargoes and an oversupply of pro ...
Wednesday, 29 February 12
69 MINERS AGREE TO RENEGOTIATE CONTRACTS - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post, one of the leading English news papaer in Indonesia reported that, as many as 60 coal contracts-of-work (PKP2B) and nine non-coal ...
Wednesday, 29 February 12
PUTTING COAL GASIFICATION TO WORK
Clifford Reese of the SSOE Group looks at practical solutions for district energy leaders who wish to implement clean coal technology.
Coal fuels ...
Monday, 27 February 12
COAL MINING PROFITS TOO HIGH, SAYS GOVT - TEMPO INTERACTIVE
Tempo Interactive reported that, Energy and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister of Indonesia Widjajono Partowidagdo has criticized coal-mining compani ...
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- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- The University of Queensland
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
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