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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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Wednesday, 07 March 12
ASSESS ASIAS POTENTIAL, DEVELOPMENTS AND APPETITE FOR SHALE AT SHALE GAS SUMMIT
Press Release - Assess Asia’s Potential, Developments and Appetite for Shale at Shale Gas Summit on 23-24 Apr, 2012 in Beijing
China is rep ...
Wednesday, 07 March 12
3RD MOZAMBIQUE COAL CONFERENCE
3rd Mozambique Coal Conference
2-4 July 2012 | Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre , Maputo, Mozambique
http://www.immevents.com/mo ...
Wednesday, 07 March 12
DRY BULK MARKET KEEPS UP TIMID REBOUND - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market has kept its rising momentum yesterday, rising for the eighth straight session, on the back of renewed demand for smaller bulk c ...
Wednesday, 07 March 12
BUKIT ASAM EYES 39% RISE IN COAL SALES - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, PT Bukit Asam Tbk is scouting a 39% increase in coal sales volume to 18.66 million tons this year from last year with ...
Wednesday, 07 March 12
PETROSEA SEALS US$188 MIO CONTRACT - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, coal mining contractor PT Petrosea Tbk has secured a US$188 million additional contract from its affiliated firm PT S ...
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- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- The University of Queensland
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Australian Coal Association
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- White Energy Company Limited
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
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