We welcome article submissions from experts in the areas of coal, mining,
shipping, etc.
To Submit your article please click here.
|
|
|
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.
If you believe an article violates your rights or the rights of others, please contact us.
|
|
Monday, 13 February 12
WEEKLY DRY MARKET OVERVIEW - MARIA BERTZELETOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The current sentiment in the dry market resembles memories from the end of 2008, when the Baltic Dry Index closed at the level of 663 points on Dece ...
Sunday, 12 February 12
INDONESIA HAS ISSUED A REGULATION TO BAN THE EXPORT OF UNPROCESSED MINERALS AND METALS BY 2014
COALspot.com - The Indonesian government has finally issued a ministerial decree (7 Year 2012 dated 6 February 2012) to ban the export of unpro ...
Sunday, 12 February 12
THE BALTIC DRY INDEX CLIMBS 10.51%
COALspot.com - "The markets touched record lows not seen since mid 80’s. However there was some good news with signs of market recovery a ...
Saturday, 11 February 12
A SNAPSHOT ON THE ECONOMIC AND SHIPPING ENVIRONMENT - GOLDEN DESTINY
The week was highlighted with intense worries in the eurozone for Greece to secure its second bailout of $130billion by applying a ...
Saturday, 11 February 12
WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF IN THIS SHIPPING CYCLE? - CLARKSONS / HELLENIC SHIPPING
A slightly dubious "best man" joke runs as follows… Best man (giving his wedding speech): "Have you noticed how history repeat ...
|
|
|
Showing 4851 to 4855 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- The University of Queensland
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
|
| |
| |
|
