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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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Tuesday, 27 March 12
DRY BULK MARKET KEEP RISING FOLLOWING THE SAME TREND OF LAST WEEK - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market kept its upward momentum this week, on the same reasons of those last week. That is, the smaller ship types are still on the ris ...
Monday, 26 March 12
WEEKLY DRY MARKET OVERVIEW - MARIA BERTZELETOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The Baltic Dry Index follows its upward incline for fourth consecutive week by rising to more than 900 points, up by 37% from the bottom low in the ...
Monday, 26 March 12
GOLDEN MINES FY11 REVENUE JUMPS 209% - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, coal miner PT Golden Energy Mines Tbk (GEMS), that is controlled by Sinar Mas Group, recorded a 209% jump in revenue ...
Saturday, 24 March 12
AUSTRALIA'S MINERAL TAX : BENCHMARK FOR OTHER COUNTRIES - SUNIL K KUMBHAT
COALspot.com - Natural resources rich counties like Australia , Indonesia , South Africa , Brazil etc are going through a spectacular resources boom ...
Saturday, 24 March 12
THE AVERAGE CHARTER RATES WAS AT CAPESIZE $ 4,546 PER DAY VS SUPRAMAX / $ 10,819 PER DAY - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - The BDI crossed 900 points this week closing at 908 points up by 3.89 pct. All other sectors were up except for cape index whic ...
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- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- PTC India Limited - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Australian Coal Association
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Planning Commission, India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- The University of Queensland
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
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