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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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Saturday, 24 December 11
CHINAS LEVEL OF GROWTH TO DETERMINE COURSE OF DRY BULK MARKET IN 2012 SAYS SHIPBROKER - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
In its latest report, shipbroker Intermodal attempted to find a silver lining in the tough year that was 2011, as well as what one could expect from ...
Friday, 23 December 11
SPOT PACIFIC CAPESIZE VESSELS HAVE COMMANDED HIGH PREMIUMS - FEARNLEYS
Handy
Rates in the Atlantic kept stable from last week, with a touch of negativity closer to the end. Less spot cargoes seen, and owners are ...
Friday, 23 December 11
CONTENTIOUS ISSUES IN CONTRACT RENEGOTIATION - THE JAKARTA POST
The government has been renegotiating mining contracts, especially those 30-40 years old, with almost all mining companies, including PT Freeport In ...
Friday, 23 December 11
LANCO JOINS HANDS WITH BUKIT ASAM FOR INDONESIAN POWER PROJECT
COALspot.com - PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam, Indonesia's state owned coal miner and Indian based Lanco Infratech Ltd plans to build steam power p ...
Thursday, 22 December 11
RI WILL NOT PLAY CATCH-UP WITH GLOBAL COAL DEMAND - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post reported that, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted in its Coal Market Report 2011 that over the next five years, gl ...
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- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- The University of Queensland
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Australian Coal Association
- White Energy Company Limited
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Parliament of New Zealand
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Planning Commission, India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
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