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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, 27 December 11
MINERS MAKE CASE FOR RESUMING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post reported that, problems with the renegotiation of mining contracts in the country are far from over, as agreements on several cruci ...
Tuesday, 27 December 11
COAL SHIPMENT OF TIANJIN PORT REACHED 6.72 MLN TONNES IN NOVEMBER - STEEL HOME / HELLENIC SHIPPING
Tianjin port shipped 6.72 million tonnes of coal in November, decreasing 600,000 tonnes versus 7.32 million tonnes in October, while up 21.09% or 1. ...
Tuesday, 27 December 11
NEW CLAUSE PUBLISHED FOR SLOW STEAMING - BIMCO
Many owners and operators faced with high bunker prices are considering implementing slow steaming regimes to save fuel and to assist with capacity ...
Monday, 26 December 11
NEW EXPORT TAX PLAN GREETED WITH PRAISE AND CRITICISM - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post, one of the Indonesia's leading english news paper reported that, both praise and criticism showered the government’s plan t ...
Sunday, 25 December 11
THERMAL COAL PRICES GAINED UP TO 4.32 PERCENT
COALspot.com - globalCOAL index gained 4.32 percent to US$106.36 per ton in RBCT, benchmark for South Asia and West Europe markets, for the week end ...
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Showing 4911 to 4915 news of total 6871 |
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- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Planning Commission, India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Parliament of New Zealand
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Australian Coal Association
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
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