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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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Thursday, 26 January 12
ABM INVESTAMA SEALS US$100 MIO CONTRACT - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, PT Reswara Minergi Hartama, a subsidary of PT ABM Investama Tbk (ABMM), has sealed a 2 million tons of coal export co ...
Thursday, 26 January 12
DRY BULK MARKETS DOWNFALL KNOWS NO LIMITS - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market’s demise seems to have no visible end, as China’s Lunar Year Holidays continue this week, thus leaving demand with n ...
Wednesday, 25 January 12
CLEAN AND CLEAR MINING PERMITS TO BE COMPLETED END OF 2012 - BISNIS.COM
Bisnis.com reported that, the government plans to announce 700 mining permits with "clean and clear" status without overlapping on other p ...
Tuesday, 24 January 12
ANOTHER SEVERE DROP IN THE CAPESIZE - BRS
The lunar year celebrations and the high number of new building deliveries (more than 35 Capes so far in January as owners push 2011 deliveries into ...
Tuesday, 24 January 12
BUKIT ASAM FY11 NET PROFIT SURGES 50% - INSIDER STORIES
Insider Stories reported that, the state-controlled PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) estimated to book Rp3 trillion (approximately US$ 335,570,469) net prof ...
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- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- White Energy Company Limited
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Planning Commission, India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- The University of Queensland
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- MS Steel International - UAE
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
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