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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, 22 December 11
DRY BULK MARKET KEEPS LOSING TRACTION AHEAD OF HOLIDAY SEASON - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The dry bulk market kept retreating in the middle of the week, as charterers seem to be looking towards the holiday season and the start of the new ye ...
Tuesday, 20 December 11
THE COAL IMPORT INTO CHINA WAS QUIETER AS COAL STOCKS WERE AT HIGH LEVELS - BRS
The BDI ended the week at 1888 points (-1.8%), the BCI corrected to 3572 (-3.4%), the BPI was up at 1,775 (+3.6%), the BSI dropped to 1193 (-3.0%) a ...
Tuesday, 20 December 11
INDIA IMPORTS 66.41 PERCENT MORE COAL FROM INDONESIA LAST MONTH - SOURCES
COALspot.com: Indonesia, the world largest coal exporter, shipped 33.476* mln mt of coal in November, which is slightly higher than its Octobe ...
Monday, 19 December 11
KOPEX COMMITS ADDITIONAL ONE MILLION DOLLAR FOR PT TRANSCOAL MINERGY
COALspot.com - Mining contractor Kopex has agreed to extend a further US$1 million to finance the remainder of the expanded drill program at PT Tran ...
Monday, 19 December 11
PLN WILL NO LONGER BUY COAL FROM TRADERS
COALspot.com - Indonesia's state electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara will no longer allow traders to become their suppliers, said, its ...
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- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Parliament of New Zealand
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- PTC India Limited - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- The University of Queensland
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- White Energy Company Limited
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Australian Coal Association
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
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