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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, 10 January 12
THE 4TH DEEPWATER ASIA CONGRESS 2012 WILL KICK OFF ON MAY 23 - 25
Press release - Based on the past three years’ success, SZ & W Group is excited to announce the 4th Deepwater Asia Congress will be held o ...
Monday, 09 January 12
2012: WHAT WILL IT BRING FOR THE DRY BULK MARKET? - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
A further increase in dry bulk demand could be the remedy for most of the industry's oversupply issues, together of course with the high level of s ...
Sunday, 08 January 12
ICICI OUTLOOK ON INDIAN POWER, MINING,CEMENT, AND SHIPPING SECTORS PERFORMANCE IN 2012
Broking firm, ICICIdirect (India) has come out with report on sectors outlook for 2012. IRIS has collated key highlights for each sector from ...
Sunday, 08 January 12
SUPRAMAX DELIVERY SOUTH CHINA FOR TRIPS VIA INDONESIA WERE REPORTED AROUND $ 7000 PER DAY - VISTAAR
Wish You a Very Happy and Prosperous New year 2012.
COALspot.com - The last report by us was on 16th Dec 2011 and because of holidays this would ...
Sunday, 08 January 12
THARPAK CONSORTIUM FORMED TO DEVELOP MEGA ENERGY COMPLEX IN SINDH PROVINCE, PAKISTAN
Press Release: On January 5th, TharPak, LLC met with officials of the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC to introduce and announce the formation o ...
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- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Parliament of New Zealand
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- PTC India Limited - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Australian Coal Association
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
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