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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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Monday, 12 March 12
DELTA DUNIA 1M OVERBURDEN DROPS 3.1% - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, Indonesia's second largest coal mining contractor PT Delta Dunia Makmur Tbk (DOID) reported a 25 million bank ...
Monday, 12 March 12
DRY BULK RATES WILL REMAIN LOW IN 2012 SAYS DANISH SHIP FINANCE - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
In its annual shipping survey Danish Ship Finance said that the current outlook for the Dry Bulk market seems unlikely to foster higher rates in any ...
Monday, 12 March 12
WEEKLY DRY MARKET OVERVIEW - MARIA BERTZELETOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The first days of March appear to be more encouraging for dry bulk operators, but the outlook is still gloomy for the rest of year with earnings for ...
Sunday, 11 March 12
FREIGHT RATES FOR INDONESIA TO INDIA WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN FIRM- VISTAAR
COALspot.com - This week saw another upward trend with all indices up except for the Cape index.
The BDI was up by 6.87 pct closing at 824 points ...
Friday, 09 March 12
MINING IN INDONESIA: RESTRICTION ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT - SUNIL K KUMBHAT
COALspot.com - Recently Govt has passed regulation instructing foreign mining companies to reduce their ownership stake.
The regulation known as ...
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- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- The University of Queensland
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- White Energy Company Limited
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- PTC India Limited - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Parliament of New Zealand
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
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