We welcome article submissions from experts in the areas of coal, mining,
shipping, etc.
To Submit your article please click here.
|
|
|
Friday, 03 August 12
INDIA - LIGHTS OUT! - SALVA
 The Indian power sector hit global headlines this week for all the wrong reasons. Firstly, on Monday, over 350 million people lost power across northern India, including Delhi. The following day, the lights went out again, but this time over 600 million people in 20 of India’s 28 states were affected, with the outages covering range of 3000 kilometers in the northern and eastern regions. The authorities’ response has ranged from blaming states for overdrawing from the grid, to appointing a committee to inquire into the causes of the blackout. However, these latest outages are merely symptomatic of much larger problems in India’s power sector, which has been short of power for years.
In Salva’s view, the problem does not lie within the generation sector – but with its upstream (coal supply and transportation) and downstream (transmission and distribution) counterparts. Since the generation sector was deregulated in FY03-04 to enable private participation, installed generation capacity has almost doubled, growing by 92GW or 85%, at a CAGR of 10.8%. The vast majority of this new capacity is coal-fired, which added another 18GW of new capacity in FY11-12 and a further 4.2GW in Q1’12.
However, this new power generation capacity is not being fully utilised, with plant load factors for coal declining from 79.2% in H1’11 to 75.8% in H1’12 and 72% most recently in June. Over 4.3TWh of coal-fired generation was lost in June alone due to low coal supply with a further 1.4TWh lost because of transmission constraints and unplanned outages. Given these figures, clearly thermal coal supply remains a problem. While domestic coal production has increased in 2012, it has languished in recent years, growing at around 1% (5Mt) between 2008-11, which pales in comparison against annual coal-fired power capacity growth of over 10%. Even when production is strong, which it has been in early 2012 (by Indian standards), transportation of coal remains highly problematic. Indian Railways has not been able to procure wagons in time to boost availability sufficiently. This has resulted in coal shortages at power plants and growth in coal mine stockpiles. Transport capacity remains severely constrained as capacity addition has languished at the altar of populism. Passenger traffic shares the same infrastructure as freight, causing freight such as coal to be given a lower priority.
The Electricity Act of 2003 freed up the generation sector, but the same reforms haven’t yet percolated to the transmission and distribution sectors, which are suffering from the same bottlenecks that existed prior to 2003. Transmission capacity is not being developed at the same pace as generation capacity, while distribution reforms remain a pipe dream. As domestic coal production has not kept pace with demand, power producers have used much costlier imported coal to generate electricity. However, India’s tariff framework is still lagging behind, so the State Electricity Boards require ever increasing financial support from state owned banks and financial institutions. Tariff reform is an immediate requirement. Only that will facilitate the sector’s much needed investment.
What are the implications if this is not done now?
Indian cities are accustomed to power cuts. However, increasing prosperity has increased electricity demand and, coupled with the weak monsoon this year, has caused power demand to spike. Agricultural states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab have increasingly overdrawn power from the grids to feed the agricultural sector (which ironically is not metered as power is free for farmers) and to meet residential demand. The agricultural sector is still dependent upon the monsoon as the irrigation network is not widespread, and the weak monsoon has resulted in farmers pumping groundwater onto their fields. Generally electricity demand is low during the monsoon months (June-September) as the rains reduce temperatures. However, the rains have been weak and hence residential power demand has remained strong. This has been further exacerbated with the additional demand from the agricultural sector. State power distribution companies have not planned in advance to buy additional electricity and have overdrawn power from the grid without additional generation being supplied. This has destabilised the grid and caused it to fail.
The impact of the electricity shortages have been felt by the public at large, with a few incidents of people protesting on the road. However, it hasn’t erupted into widespread unrest - thankfully.
The implications of not carrying out reforms in the transmission and distribution sector are now apparent. Lack of adequate investment in the transmission sector will hobble the impressive generation capacity that has been developed. Lack of commercial reforms in the power distribution sector will not provide the returns or even cover the basic cost of generation. The power sector is already sick and if reforms are not carried out with the seriousness required, India will suffer further setbacks.
Source: Salva
If you believe an article violates your rights or the rights of others, please contact us.
|
|
Sunday, 22 July 12
NEW CHAIRMAN FOR AUSTRALIAN COAL ASSOCIATION
The Australian Coal Association (ACA) announced that Mr Ross Willims has been appointed as its new independent Chairman effective November 5 2012. M ...
Sunday, 22 July 12
CENTRAL KALIMANTAN COAL RAILWAY NETWORK WILL BE BUILT BY 2015 - THE BORNEO POST
The borneo post reported that, a declaration to build a coal railway network is signed today (12/07/2012) in front of the Indonesian Vice President ...
Sunday, 22 July 12
COAL PRICES IN MIXED TRENDS; STOCKS REMAIN HIGH AT BOTH ENDS
COALspot.com - Sub-Bit Indonesia coal swaps (FOB ) for September 2012 delivery fell 0.99 percent on last Friday closing (d-o-d) and 1.19 percent com ...
Sunday, 22 July 12
TATA POWER SIGNS A LONG TERM COAL SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH PT ANTANG GUNUNG MERATUS, INDONESIA
COALspot.com - Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power utility, last Friday announced that it has signed a long term coal suppl ...
Saturday, 21 July 12
THE FREIGHT RATES ARE EXPECTED TO BE FLAT TO SOFT NEXT WEEK - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - The freight market was soft this week as all the segments were down.
The BDI was down by 6.58 pct closing at 1,037 points and the ...
|
|
|
Showing 4646 to 4650 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Planning Commission, India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- White Energy Company Limited
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Australian Coal Association
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
|
| |
| |
|
