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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, 09 March 12
SHIP OWNERS LOOKING TO CHINA FOR REVIVAL, WHILE THEY KEEP SELLING OLD SHIPS FOR SCRAP - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
With China’s economic policy plan for the future on every ship owner’s mind, at least those involved in the dry bulk industry, the lates ...
Thursday, 08 March 12
INDONESIA'S COAL SECTOR CAN BENEFIT FROM CLEARER REGULATIONS - FITCH RATINGS
Fitch Ratings says Indonesia's coal mining sector should continue to see strong growth prospects but can benefit from clearer and more predictable ...
Thursday, 08 March 12
DRY BULK MARKET ON THE RISE; CHINAS COAL IMPORTS COULD INCREASE - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market kept on rising back to healthier levels yesterday, with the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) the industry’s benchmark, marking its 8 ...
Wednesday, 07 March 12
INDONESIA COAL BENCHMARK PRICE GAINS FOR SECOND MONTH
COALspot.com - Indonesia raised the monthly coal reference price for sales in March by 1.15 percent, the second increase since February.
The Mini ...
Wednesday, 07 March 12
INDONESIA TO LIMIT FOREIGN OWNERSHIP IN MINES TO 49 PERCENT WITHIN 10 YEARS OF PRODUCTION
COALspot.com - Foreign holders of mining licenses in Indonesia have to divert 51% of their stakes to Indonesian government or domestic entitie ...
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Showing 4816 to 4820 news of total 6871 |
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- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Australian Coal Association
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- White Energy Company Limited
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- The University of Queensland
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
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