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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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Wednesday, 04 January 12
NEWBUILDING ORDERS PICKED UP IN 2011, BUT 2012 EXPECTED TO BE A DIFFERENT STORY - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
With the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) starting the year on a sour note, losing 114 points and ending yesterday’s session, the first of the new year, ...
Wednesday, 04 January 12
MAHAGENCO TO IMPORT LOW MOISTURE COAL
COALspot.com - Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd. is the state power generation utility owned by Government of Maharashtra, intends to proc ...
Tuesday, 03 January 12
INDONESIA COAL REFERENCE PRICE FELL AGAIN
COALspot.com - Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia has sets the January 2012 coal reference price at US$ 109.29 per ton or US$ 3.3 ...
Tuesday, 03 January 12
WHICH WAY WILL THE DRY BULK MARKET HEAD ON FIRST WEEK OF THE YEAR? - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
Dry bulk ship owners will be wondering which way will the BDI (Baltic Dry Index), the industry’s benchmark, will head during the first days of ...
Monday, 02 January 12
THE PROMISE OF INDIA: A BRIEF INTERRUPTION? - CLARKSONS / HELLENIC SHIPPING
Future growth in Indian seaborne coal imports has sometimes been considered as one of the largest potential upsides in the currently oversupplied dr ...
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- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Parliament of New Zealand
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- PTC India Limited - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Planning Commission, India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
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