We welcome article submissions from experts in the areas of coal, mining,
shipping, etc.
To Submit your article please click here.
|
|
|
Friday, 27 November 09
IMPORTING LIGNITE INTO COAL RICH KOSOVO
 Balkan Insight has discovered that one of Kosovo’s biggest firms is being forced to import lignite from Malaysia and Indonesia, despite estimates that the newly independent country sits on the world’s fifth largest reserve of the fuel.
Metal firm Ferronikeli, one of Kosovo’s biggest companies, is importing lignite from the other side of the world because it cannot access the country’s rich reserves of brown coal.
Balkan Insight has discovered that the ferronickel exporter has been forced to sign deals with Malaysia and Indonesia to import lignite to its plant in Drenas.
Kosovo has about 14,700 million tonnes of unexploited lignite, worth some 120 billion euro, which is estimated to be the fifth largest reserve of brown coal on the planet.
But Kosovo’s current mines are soon to run out of coal and Ferronikeli, which was bought in 2007 by IMR/Alferon as part of Kosovo’s privatisation programme, complains that the lignite which is available cannot be used.
Arten Bajrushi, spokesman for Ferronikeli, told Balkan Insight: “Even early on, and still today, we have imported lignite from other countries of the world. We have agreements with Indonesia and Malaysia to import lignite.”
He added that only a very small amount of lignite is taken from KEK, Kosovo’s national energy provider, because the publicly owned firm cannot provide enough lignite, and that the coal it can provide is ‘too wet’ for Ferronikeli to use.
Bajrushi said: “Lignite that KEK uses for electricity is 38 per cent wet, while for our technological processes lignite needs to be only 18 per cent wet.
“This issue was supposed to be solved by a drying facility that KEK does have, but it does not work most of the time,” said Bajrushi.
He added that KEK’s organisational problems mean that it is cheaper for his firm to import coal from thousands of kilometres away rather than buy it in Kosovo.
Transporting from South East Asia remains cheaper, even though coal is shipped to Greece, as Albania and Montenegro do not have the capacity to take large cargo.
“The ports of Albania can only take 10,000 tonnes of coal, while the Greek ports can take 50,000 tonnes of coal, of which 10,000 goes to Ferronikeli and the rest is taken by other companies,” said Bajrushi.
He hopes that with the privatisation of KEK, the situation will improve, as currently only KEK has the right to sources of energy.
But officials at KEK told Balkan Insight that it does not have the right to sell lignite. According to Viktor Buzhala, KEK Spokesman, only Kosovacoal KC, a subsidiary of KEK, has the right to sell lignite.
He refused to comment on why the drying facility doesn’t work, pointing Balkan Insight towards KosovaCoal. No officials at the firm responded to questions.
Kosovo is currently using just 2 per cent of its coal stocks at the Mirash and Bardhi mines, which are soon to be exhausted.
Economic experts believe that Kosovo must quickly open new lignite mines, which would be able to supply Ferronikeli and other firms.
Azem Rexhaj, who is executive director of the Independent Commission of Mines and Minerals, ICMM, said: “There are two options for Ferronikeli to receive its lignite from Kosovo – one is for it to be supplied by KEK, and the other is for Kosovo to open a new lignite mine.
“Kosovo’s lignite is good enough quality to suit Ferronikeli. This can be seen by the fact that between 1985 and the beginning of the war, Ferronikeli used this type of lignite,” said Rexhaj.
He urged the government to take the necessary measures to open a new lignite mine.
“With the opening of a new mine, we will have the opportunity to extract sufficient lignite, will also create new jobs and will stop the import of lignite that wastes several million euros a year,” said Rexhaj.
Lignite reserves are plentiful in the Dugagjini and Drenica area of Kosovo, near the Ferronikeli plant, and can easily be exploited, he added.
Kosovo’s government has decided to deal with the situation by opening the Sibovc mine, which can supply coal for 40 years.
“Workers are moving fast to make the opening of the mine happen. We think that our first coal from this mine will arrive in the middle of next year,” said Arben Gjukaj, Managing Director of KEK.
The new mine is being opened to supply Kosovo’s new power station, Kosova e Re, which has been dogged by delays.
It is not known whether coal from this mine will be supplied to Ferronikeli or when the drying facility will begin to work again.
Source: Balkan Insight
If you believe an article violates your rights or the rights of others, please contact us.
|
|
Monday, 28 December 09
INDONESIAN MINER LINKED TO FUGITIVE FINANCIER
The Energy Ministry is unlikely to approve the transfer of ownership of coal miner PT Riau Baraharum on allegations it is indirectly owned by fugiti ...
Monday, 28 December 09
SOMALI PIRATES SAY $4 MILLION RANSOM PAID FOR COAL SHIP
A helicopter dropped a $4 million ransom payment on Sunday on to the deck of a Chinese coal ship hijacked by Somali pirates in mid-October, a pirate ...
Saturday, 26 December 09
COAL INDIA, RIO TINTO MAY HOLD TALKS SOON ON TIE-UP
State owned Coal India Limited (CIL), which is in the race for acquisition of overseas coal properties to plug the demand supply shortfall of the dr ...
Saturday, 26 December 09
COKING COAL PRICES MAY RISE BY 10 - 15% FROM APRIL 2010
The price of coking coal, one of the key raw materials for steel production, is likely to increase by 10-15% in next April, the month in which m ...
Saturday, 26 December 09
COAL INDIA SECURES TWO BLOCKS IN MOZAMBIQUE
It's official now. Mozambique has awarded two coal acreages in its Maotize region with an estimated one billion tonne reserves to Coal India Ltd bu ...
|
|
|
Showing 6141 to 6145 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Planning Commission, India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Australian Coal Association
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Parliament of New Zealand
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- PTC India Limited - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
|
| |
| |
|
