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Sunday, 13 March 11
COAL NO LONGER A CHEAP ENERGY SOURCE - THE SUNDAY LEADER
 The Sunday Leader reported that, the addition of power generated through coal power to the country’s national grid was initially expected to result in the generation of cheap electricity. However, with the country’s (Sri Lanka) first coal power plant set to commence power generation shortly, Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka says that it might not generate cheap power or result in a possible reduction in electricity tariffs.
The Minister observes that the era of cheap power ended in 1995. The increasing demand for energy has now made ‘cheap power’ a thing of the past.
The Norochcholai coal power plant project was mooted in the 1990s and initiated in 2006 with the promise of cheap power to the consumers. Successive government’s claimed that coal power would result in a reduction in the electricity tariffs.
However, the delays in implementing the project and the increase in coal prices have now prevented Sri Lanka from reaping the anticipated benefit of cheap power.
Although relatively cheaper than thermal power, coal power would not bring a reduction in current tariffs.
According to the Minister, the price of electricity depends on the energy sources and technology. “It is beyond our control,” he said.
Ranawaka said that coal power in the current context is not a long term solution to the country’s power generation issues and long term power diversification is therefore considered important.
“Coal power would bring in a long term diversification of the country’s energy sources and short term economic benefits, but would not result in the generation of cheap power as expected in the 1990s when the plan to construct a coal power plant was initially mooted,” he said.
Ranawaka explained that a coal power generated electricity unit that cost 18 cents (US$ 0.0016) in 1990 and 90 cents (US$ 0.0081) in 2000 has increased to Rs. 6.20 (US$ 0.05) in 2010. In 1990, an electricity unit was sold at Rs. 4.70 (US$ 0.042) in the country.
The increase in a unit price of coal power is a clear indication that coal power generation would not be able to bring the results anticipated in 1990.
The Minister noted that coal when Sri Lanka ordered its first shipment, was at US$ 69 per tonne and the energy cost of a unit was Rs. 3.20 (US$ 0.029). When the second shipment was ordered, the coal prices had increased to US$ 140 per tonne resulting in an increase in the per unit energy cost to Rs. 6.50 (US$ 0.059).
“We have now ordered the next shipment and the coal prices have further increased to US$ 160 per tonne,” Ranawaka said.
The increase in coal consumption and the lack of energy sources are expected to make coal a very expensive energy source by 2020.
Coal cannot be considered a cheap energy source since the 2008 crisis, the Minister said.
The per unit energy cost of diesel power is Rs. 22 (US$ 0.199), naphtha/heavy fuel is Rs. 10 (US$ 0.0908) and special fuel is Rs. 14 (US$ 0.1272) at present. An additional Rs. 5 (US$ 0.0454) and Rs. 3.50 (US$ 0.0318) for transmission and distribution has to be included for each unit in order to determine the final cost of a unit.
Coal power generation was included in the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB’s) generation cycle in 1990 when coal in fact was a cheap source of power. However, the implementation of a coal power project was delayed till 2006 due to protests and objections raised by various parties.
The delay in the installation of a coal power plant has now resulted in coal power no longer being a cheap energy source.
Although coal is no longer a cheap energy source, it is relatively cheaper than renewable energy and diesel and naphtha generated energy.
Ranawaka also explained that when purchasing coal for power generation, the coal should be of a certain standard in order to minimise the environmental impact.
He explained that while there is coal available at different prices, the cheaper coal would result in higher environmental pollution.
Coal power generation causes a sludge, ash, carbon and sulfur emissions.
According to Ranawaka, unlike in the past, there are now ways of disposing the waste products.
While coal ash is one of the key components of cement, countries like India use the sludge as construction material.
“Technology is there to dispose the carbon and sulfur emissions from a coal power plant,” he said.
The carbon emission from the proposed 300MW coal power plant is expected to increase per capita emission by 110Kgs. In 2010, the total per capita level of emission stood at 660Kgs and the addition of the coal power plant would increase it up to 770Kgs.
Once the second phase of the Norochcholai coal power plant is completed and the Sampur power plant is also added into the grid, per capita emission levels will increase by 490-500Kgs.
The total per capita emission level will be 1150-1200Kgs.
The per capita emissions levels are currently 2,100Kgs in India, 6,800Kgs in China, 11,000Kgs in Europe, 21,000 Kgs in Australia and 24,000 Kgs in the US.
“Sri Lanka is far lower in the list,” Ranawaka said, adding that the country did not face any threat of environmental pollution from the coal power plants.
Nevertheless, coal power cannot be considered as a long term solution, he reiterated. It is this reason that has prompted the country’s power sector to consider liquid natural gas (LNG) and even nuclear power as energy sources. “The long term solution would always lie in green energy sources,” Ranawaka said.
Unlike hydro power, coal power is considered as a base load power that is generated throughout the day.
“We want to develop coal, thermal, LNG and nuclear power in the country. Nuclear power however, would take another 15 years,” the Minister said.
The Power and Energy Ministry is now looking at converting most of the thermal power plants in the country into LNG plants.
The LNG plants are to come into operation within two years, Ranawaka said.
As for the price factor, he said that the cost of LNG power would be similar to coal power.
However, Ranawaka said that in the context of rising commodity prices in the past few years, electricity prices have remained unchanged since 2008.
When all other commodity prices increased, the electricity prices have not been increased and have remained the same,” he said.
Sampur Plant Will Go Ahead
Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka said the proposed Sampur power plant will go ahead as planned once the legal issues are resolved. The Sampur plant that is to be set up with Indian cooperation has been delayed due to a legal snag following several issues raised by the Attorney General.
“Once the legal issues are resolved, work on the power plant will commence,” Ranawaka said.
The Sampur coal power plant is expected to be completed by 2017. The type of coal to be used in the plant is to be decided by the Indians.
When asked if the plant would use coal that is of a good quality in order to minimise the environmental impact, Ranawaka said there would not be a problem with the quality of the coal used in the Sampur plant. (1 LKR = 0.00908926 USD - http://www.xe.com)
Source: The Sunday Leader (By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema)
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Saturday, 07 May 11
BERAU INKS DEALS WITH CHINESE FIRMS AS COAL WEATHERS COMMODITIES STORM - THE JAKARTA GLOBE
The Jakarta Globe reported that, Berau Coal, one of the country’s largest coal miners, has signed sales contracts with two Chinese companies a ...
Saturday, 07 May 11
SUPRAMAXES ARE AT AROUND $ 13,500-14,000 PER DAY FOR SINGLE TRIPS
COALspot.com - The freight remained fairly steady this week with the BDI up by 71 points and closing at 1,340 points, said Capt. Reddy, the director ...
Saturday, 07 May 11
COAL PRODUCTION MAY REACH 95M TONS IN SECOND QUARTER - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post reported that, Indonesian miners are projected to produce around 95 million tons of coal in the second quarter of this year after l ...
Friday, 06 May 11
BUKIT ASAM TO CLOSE COAL TAKEOVER IN Q2 - INSIDER STORIES
The state-controlled PT Tambang Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) expects to complete acquisition of two coal mining companies from four companies which is now ...
Thursday, 05 May 11
SUPRAS IN NORTH CHINA ARE GETTING CLOSE TO $ 13K FOR INDO-INDIA
Handy
The Atlantic market is stable/flat with positive undertone meaning more enquiries hitting the market today. Lack of prompt vessels. Trips to ...
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- Thai Mozambique Logistica
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- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
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- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
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- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
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- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
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- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
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- Australian Coal Association
- Economic Council, Georgia
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- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
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- Central Java Power - Indonesia
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- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
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- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
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- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
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- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
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- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
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- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
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- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
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- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
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- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
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- Wilmar Investment Holdings
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- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
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- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
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