THAILAND: National energy plan threatened by Japan nuclear disaster

(EnergyAsia, April 18 2011, Monday) — Thailand’s plans to develop nuclear power could be derailed by the crisis in Japan triggered by the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Thai planners insist that they have no choice but to consider nuclear power to meet the country’s rising electricity consumption and the need for energy security....

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

ASIA: ADB and partners to help five Pacific nations reduce fossil fuel use

(EnergyAsia, April 18 2011, Monday) — Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it and its partners are extending technical assistance worth US$12.4 million to five Pacific nations to reduce their heavy reliance on imported diesel for power generation. The ADB said its board recently approved the assistance under phase 2 of the “Promoting Energy Efficiency in...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

MONGOLIA: Mongolian Mining Corp to commission coal handling plant this quarter

(EnergyAsia, April 15 2011, Friday) — Mongolian Mining Corp is expected to commission the first module of its new five-million-tonne-a-year plant to handle and process coal this quarter. The second phase of the plant will be operational later in the year while the third phase will likely start up at the end of 2012, lifting (more…)

SRI LANKA: First coal-fired power plant due to start operating

(EnergyAsia, April 15 2011, Friday)  — Sri Lanka’s first coal-fired power plant Lakvijaya is adding 300 megawatts of electricity-generation capacity to the national grid. The first phase of the plant in Puttalam District of the Northwestern Province is due to start up soon, and may be expanded to 900 megawatts. Work on the second phase...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

INDONESIA: Jakarta raised 2011 mineral and coal investments target

(EnergyAsia, April 15 2011, Thurday) — Following the recent run-up in commodity prices, Indonesia said it is targeting to attract US$3.5 billion in mineral and coal investments for 2011, revised up from the original target of US$2.25 billion. According to the Energy and Mines Ministry, international investors are already raising their investment budgets to take...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

AUSTRALIA: Exports to post-quake Japan projected to fall by A$2 billion

(EnergyAsia, April 15 2011, Friday) — Australia’s exports to post-quake Japan are expected to decline by A$2 billion this fiscal year, with  coal and iron ore sales taking the biggest hit, said Treasurer Wayne Swan . (US$1=A$0.95). Japanese demand has fallend and will likely stay weak in the short term with the shutdown of factories...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

AUSTRALIA: Victoria state to face limit on coal-fired power plant operations

(EnergyAsia, April 15 2011, Friday) — The Australian government is looking to limit the operation of coal-fired plants in Victoria state to periods when demand for power is high, leaving these plants shut for a number of months every year, according to government climate change adviser Ross Gamaut. Mr Gamaut is expected to recommend this...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

CHINA: US energy solutions firm hails coal-to-MEG technology

(EnergyAsia, April 14 2011, Thursday) — A migration from conventional ethylene-based monoethylene glycol (MEG) production to coal-based production could potentially lead to a big shake-up of the global MEG market, with China spearheading the way, said US-based intelligent grid software and clean energy solutions provider Nexant Inc. The coal-to-MEG production process represents a major breakthrough (more…)

SINGAPORE: Marine and offshore sector’s 2010 output expected to batter 2009’s record of S$16.83 billion

(EnergyAsia, April 14 2011, Thursday) — Singapore’s marine and offshore output for 2010 is expected to have exceeded 2009’s record S$16.83 billion that was achieved despite the gloomy conditions brought on by the global economic recession and weak oil prices. The Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI) which recently released its 2009 annual report said...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

CHINA: Puda Coal achieved record US$23.3 million net income for FY2010

(EnergyAsia, April 14 2011, Thursday) — NYSE-listed Puda Coal Inc said its adjusted net income rose  121.7% to a record US$23.3 million while revenue grew 51.7% to an all-time high US$324.8 million for the full year ended December 31 2010. The Taiyuan city, Shanxi province-based company also reported a 126.8% increase in gross profit to...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

INDIA: Government wants miners to raise coal production by at least 7% this fiscal year

(EnergyAsia, April 14 2011, Thursday) — The Indian government has set a target for the nation’s coal miners to raise production by 7%-8% for the current financial year beginning April 1. In the previous financial year, India had planned to produce 572.4 million metric tons, said Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal. Japan will add to the...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

CHINA: Coal supply tightening, says NDRC

(EnergyAsia, April 14 2011, Thursday) — China’s coal supply and demand are generally balanced for now, but could tighten in coming months, according to data from the country’s top economic planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). China’s domestic coal production for the first two months of the year rose 13.5% to 516...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

CHINA: Consortium eyes stake in Canada’s coal resources

(EnergyAsia, April 14 2011, Thursday) — A consortium of Chinese companies is offering to shell out a total of C$1 billion to acquire stakes in coal resources in Canada’s British Columbia province. (US$1=C$0.97). Led by the Shougang Group, the consortium is interested to help develop three underground coal mines in northeastern British Columbia from late...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

JAPAN: Demand for Australian, Indonesian coal seen rising over the next two years

(EnergyAsia, April 13 2011, Wednesday) — Japanese demand for coal and fuel oil is expected to rise over the next two years following the earthquake-induced nuclear damage in the world’s third-largest economy, according to Fitch Ratings. Fitch said coal and fuel oil-fired generation will fill the shortfall in Japan’s electricity-generation capacity, caused by the damage...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

JAPAN: Government released oil from emergency stockpile

(EnergyAsia, April 13 2011, Wednesday) — The Japanese government last month released more than nine million kilolitres or nearly 57 million barrels of crude oil from its emergency stockpile to assist rescue and clean-up operations in country’s earthquake-hit northeast region. According to the Ministry of Economy, the amount, equal to 22 days of national consumption,...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

MONGOLIA: Diversification sought amid surge in coal, minerals wealth

(EnergyAsia, April 13 2011, Wednesday) — Mongolia is looking to diversify its revenue from mining to achieve balanced long-term growth, said Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold. The country, one of the world’s most sparsely populated, wants to focus on creating jobs in non-extractive industries, said Mr Batbold who has expressed concern that Mongolia’s fast-growing economy may...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

MONGOLIA: South Korea secures US$3-billion rail to serve coal mine, looks to expand ties

(EnergyAsia, April 13 2011, Wednesday) — A South Korean consortium has secured a US$3 billion deal to build a railway to serve Mongolia’s giant Tavan Tolgoi coal mine as part of their rapidly expanding bilateral commercial ties. With about 6.4 billion tons of reserves, Tavan Tolgoi is the biggest untapped coal mine in the world....

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

CHINA: Canadian firm updates on acquisition of Mei Feng coal mine

(EnergyAsia, April 13 2011, Wednesday) — Alberta, Canada-based China Coal Corporation said it expects to receive by mid-May the Chinese government’s approval for its plan to acquire a 60% equity interest in the Mei Feng coal mine located near Urumqi in western China’s Xinjiang province. Last year, China Coal said its 75%-owned Chinese subsidiary, Xinjiang Huamei (more…)

MARKETS: ICE cleared equivalent of over three million tonnes of coal last Friday

(EnergyAsia, April 13 2011, Wednesday) — globalCOAL said the ICE-based Newcastle coal futures contract traded at near-record levels last Friday (April 8). The 3,040 lots cleared in a single day, equivalent to over 3 million tonnes of coal, represented the second highest daily volume on record since July 2010. “Activity in the gC ICE Newcastle (more…)

CHINA: Puda Coal reviewing allegations that chairman made “improper share transactions”

(EnergyAsia, April 12 2011, Tuesday) — NYSE-listed Puda Coal Inc said it is reviewing allegations by an investor website on April 8 that its chairman, Ming Zhao, made “improper share transactions”. The company said it “intends to provide a formal response to the allegations as soon as practical.” Puda Coal is a supplier of high...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

AUSTRALIA: Floods could cost coal miners A$8.3 billion

(EnergyAsia, April 12 2011, Tuesday) — Australia’s Treasury Department has revised higher its estimate of coal production losses from the devastating floods that hit the country in January to 20-30 million tonnes from an earlier estimate of 15 million tonnes. The Treasury said miners could lose as much as A$8.3 billion, up from a previous...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

INDONESIA: Coal sales to Japan could decline in the near term

(EnergyAsia, April 12 2011, Tuesday) — Indonesia’s coal exports to Japan could decline in the wake of the 9-magnitude earthquake that struck off Honshu island triggering a tsunami on March 11, said Indonesian Coal Mining Association chairman Bob Kamandan. As many as five coal-fired power plants were damaged, possibly reducing demand for coal from Indonesia....

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

INDONESIA: Coal production to rise 30% to 360 million tons this year

(EnergyAsia, April 12 2011, Tuesday) — Indonesia’s coal production is expected to increase 30% this year to 360 million tons given favourable weather and rising prices, according to the Indonesian Coal Mining Association. Last year, Indonesia produced 275 million tons of coal, well below the association’s target of 320 million tons largely due to heavy...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

INDIA: Monet group buys Indonesian coal firm for US$24 million

(EnergyAsia, April 12 2011, Tuesday) — India’s Monnet Ispat & Energy Limited (MIEL) said its wholly-owned subsidiary, Monnet Global Ltd (MGL), has acquired PT Sarwa Sembada Karya Bumi , giving it access to one of Indonesia’s largest thermal coal mines. MGL paid US$24 million for the Indonesian coal miner which is looking to increase its...

This article is for Subscriber members only.
Log In Register

AUSTRALIA: BHP to invest US$400 million to expand Hunter Valley Energy Coal project

(EnergyAsia, April 12 2011, Tuesday) — Australian mining giant BHP Billiton said it has approved a US$400 million investment to expand its fully-owned Hunter Valley Energy Coal project in New South Wales state. The RX1 project will expand the Mount Arthur Coal’s run-of-mine thermal coal production by four million tonnes per year (t/y), to approximately (more…)