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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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Tuesday, 31 January 12
THERE ARE MANY GOOD REASONS FOR COAL IN GERMANY - DR CIESLIK
COALspot.com - "The year 2011 was again marked by many changes on the markets and energy policies, at times in line with expectations, but at o ...
Tuesday, 31 January 12
DRY BULK MARKET KEEPS FALLING FOR WORST MONTH IN YEARS - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market didn't manage to put a halt in its downfall, with the industry's benchmark, the BDI (Baltic Dry Index), posting yet another fa ...
Monday, 30 January 12
CHINA'S HUNGER FOR COAL LEAVES DENT IN PENNSYLVANIA'S SUPPLY - THOMAS LESKIN
With the price of heating oil on the rise, one of Pennsylvania's greatest natural resources - coal - is in high demand, and not just locally.
Et ...
Saturday, 28 January 12
WILL FREIGHT MARKET STABILIZE FROM NEXT WEEK?
COALspot.com - The markets continued to soften with BDI at 663 points down by 15.78 pct closing at 726 points and cape index was down by 5.73 pct cl ...
Friday, 27 January 12
DEMOLITION ACTIVITY NEEDS TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY THIS YEAR AS WELL - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The oversupply of vessels in most shipping sectors is so intense that it’s become clear to ship owners that unless they scrap as many of their ...
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- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- White Energy Company Limited
- Minerals Council of Australia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Australian Coal Association
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
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