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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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Friday, 30 March 12
RECOND NUMBERS SURROUNDING THE SUPRAMAX DRY BULK MARKET - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
Last year proved to be both a record year in the number of deliveries of dry bulkers between 40,000dwt and 64,000dwt, as well as a record year in th ...
Thursday, 29 March 12
DRY BULK EDGED FURTHER UP, ON HEALTHY DEMAND FOR MOST SHIP TYPES - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
With capesize vessels finally reappearing in demand, the dry bulk market had an easier task of rising yesterday, as the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) reach ...
Thursday, 29 March 12
ADARO FY11 NET INCOME JUMPS 124% - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, PT Adaro Energy Tbk (ADRO) today announced a 124% jump in net income to US$552 million last year or US$0.017 a share. ...
Wednesday, 28 March 12
CUESTA HAS RECEIVED APPLICATIONS AND FIRM BIDS IN EXCESS OF $9 MILLION FOR THE COMPANYS IPO
COALspot.com - The Directors of Cuesta Coal Limited (ASX:CQC) have announced that today it has received applications and firm bids in excess of $9 m ...
Wednesday, 28 March 12
ORPHEUS ENERGY TO COMMENCE JORC DRILLING AT ADK PROJECT
COALspot.com - Indonesian coal explorer and producer, Orpheus Energy (ASX:OEG), have today announced that the company is about to commence a drillin ...
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- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- White Energy Company Limited
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- PTC India Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- MS Steel International - UAE
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Australian Coal Association
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- The University of Queensland
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
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