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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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Thursday, 28 April 11
BALTIC DRY INDEX NUDGES UP AFTER DAYS OF LOSSES - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
After consecutive falls, the dry bulk freight market, as followed through the Baltic Dry Index, finally caught a breather yesterday, with the BDI ma ...
Wednesday, 27 April 11
KEWESPO CALLS FOR 765KT OF THERMAL COAL
COALspot.com - South Korea's East-West Power Co's (KEWESPO) has issued a tender to buy total 765,000 tonnes of thermal coal for delivery between J ...
Wednesday, 27 April 11
HARUM ENERGY TO PAY RP 659.1B IN DIVIDENDS - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post reported that, Indonesian coal miner Harum Energy is planning to pay out Rp 659.1 billion (US$76.46 million) in dividends this year ...
Wednesday, 27 April 11
TSIS $5 MILLION PLANT TO START PRODUCING UPGRADED COAL - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakartapost reported that, PT Total Sinergy International (TSI), in association with Agritrade Resources Limited of Hong Kong, will upgrade its ...
Wednesday, 27 April 11
RAIN CONSIDERS COAL MINES TAKEOVER - INSIDER STORIES
Indonesian's tenth largest coal miner in term of coal concession, PT Resource Alam Indonesia Tbk (KKGI), is considering to acquire several coalmine ...
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- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- The University of Queensland
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- White Energy Company Limited
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- PTC India Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
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