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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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Saturday, 04 February 12
SUPRAMAX DELIVERY SOUTH CHINA FOR TRIPS VIA INDONESIA WERE REPORTED AROUND $ 6,000 PER DAY - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - The markets continued to soften which dropped by almost 11 pct and BDI closing at 647 points.
The drop in BDI was mainly due to dr ...
Thursday, 02 February 12
NO RELIEF YET FOR DRY BULK SHIP OWNERS - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
Although at the start of 2012 nobody can claim that the global seaborne trade has suddenly come to a halt, quite the contrary, it seems that the dry ...
Wednesday, 01 February 12
KRISHNAPATNAM PORT - GOING DEEP TO SOAR HIGH
COALspot.com - Krishnapatnam Port now rightfully claims as the deepest draft port in India, as it has started accepting vessels with maximum permiss ...
Wednesday, 01 February 12
IN JAMBI, MOST MINING COMPANIES LACK 'CLEAR-AND-CLEAN' PERMITS - JP
More than three-quarters of the 386 mining companies in Jambi lack “clear-and-clean” certifications from the government, according to an ...
Wednesday, 01 February 12
2% OF IBPS TOTAL CONCESSION AREA CONTAINS TOTAL COAL RESOURCE OF 56.1 MILLION TON
COALspot.com - PT. Britmindo, a mine consulting firm, has finalized PT. Insani Bara Perkasa (IBP) first JORC (Joint Ore Reserves Committee) res ...
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- MS Steel International - UAE
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Australian Coal Association
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- PTC India Limited - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- The University of Queensland
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
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