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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, 22 February 12
RAW COMMODITY EXPORT BAN SPARKS SMELTER BUILDING BOOM IN INDONESIA ANTARA / THE JAKARTA GLOBE
Antara / The Jakarta Globe reported that, as the government gears up to ban all exports of unprocessed commodities, Indonesia will see 12 new ...
Tuesday, 21 February 12
THREAT ISSUED ON MINERAL FIRMS AS GOVT PLANS EXPORT BAN - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post, one of the leading english news papaer in Indonesia reported that, the government has given mineral producers three months to subm ...
Monday, 20 February 12
WEEKLY DRY MARKET OVERVIEW - MARIA BERTZELETOU
The dry market experienced one more disappointing week with tonnage oversupply and limited cargo demand that pushes earnings for shipping players to ...
Monday, 20 February 12
JATENERGY SECURES FIRST 8000-TONNE COAL SALES CONTRACT FOR JONGKANG MINES
8000-tonne contract with Singaporean buyer signed for March delivery
50% down payment due in five working days
Production continues at both Jongka ...
Monday, 20 February 12
DIAN SWASTATIKA ACQUIRES ANDALAN LESTARI - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, PT Dian Swastatika Sentosa Tbk (DSSA), controlled by Fuganto Widjaja, son of Indra Widjaja, reported a 99.83% takeove ...
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- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- The University of Queensland
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Planning Commission, India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Australian Coal Association
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
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