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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, 10 February 12
TONNAGE KEEPS ON COMING - DREWRY
Drewry Maritime Research’s latest edition of its Dry Bulk Forecaster pulls no punches in its assessment of a market that looks certain to cont ...
Friday, 10 February 12
GIVE PERMIT POWERS TO GOVERNORS: MINERS - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post reported that, following clashes between mining companies and local residents, the Indonesian Mining Association (IMA) wants to tra ...
Thursday, 09 February 12
AUSTRALIA'S EPIC TO ACQUIRE 15,500 HA COAL EXPLORATION LICENCES IN EAST KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA
COALspot.com - Epic Resources Limited to acquire two coal concessions in Kutai Barat regency, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.
According to company's ...
Thursday, 09 February 12
RESOURCE ALAM BUYS 28,521HA CONCESSIONS - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, PT Resource Alam Indonesia Tbk (KKGI), owned by Adijanto family, today announced acquisition of 75% interest in PT Ka ...
Tuesday, 07 February 12
DRY BULK MARKET FINALLY STOPS DECLINE, POSTS FIRST RISE IN MORE THAN A MONTH - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
After falling to near record lows, not seen since the mid-80s the dry bulk market has finally stopped its path to "hell", with the industr ...
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- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- The University of Queensland
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Australian Coal Association
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- White Energy Company Limited
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
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