Weekly coal news highlights: 10 – 14 August 2015

A round-up of news from 10 – 14 August 2015

Outlooks on coal emissions

The World Coal Association urges governments across the world to commit to developing the deployment of low-emission high-efficiency technologies.
• According to an analyst with GlobalData, the recently revealed US Clean Power Plan will negatively affect the US coal industry as many facilities are unlikely to meet emission regulations.
• April emissions of CO2 from the US electric power sector were at their lowest levels since 1998 as coal burn has dropped in favour of natural gas.

Awards and achievements

• Deswik software wins an ABA100 for Product Innovation and Product Excellence in the Australian Business Awards 2015.
• BHP Billiton celebrates the 130 yr anniversary of the incorporation of BHP and its contribution to the Australian economy for over a century.
• Following the Senate and Environment and Public Works Committee mark-up of the Affordable and Reliable Energy Now Act, the National Mining Association applauds the Senate and EPW for supporting the Arena Act.

Mining

• Kibo Mining has announced the findings for the mining prefeasibility study for its Mbeya (formerly Rukwa) coal-to-power project.
• Foresight Energy temporarily idles longwall mining operations at its Deer Run Mine in Pennsylvania.
• BMI Research has forecast Polish coal mining to grow in the coming years, yet only a limited amount. But this will keep Poland a significant player in the European coal market.
• A forecast from BMI Research on Botswana’s mining sector through to 2019 indicates diamond production and a growth in coal will support the sector but a lack of diversity may leave the country vulnerable to growing competitors.
• Ongoing weakness in thermal coal prices is increasing the financial stress on Australia’s coal mining and mining services companies.

Projects

• Oracle Coalfields coal price petition has been admitted by the Sindh provincial government, allowing the company to proceed with its coal and power project in the Thar desert.
• Jacob Engineering Group wins two contracts for Jimah East power project in Malaysia to provide engineering services for the balance of the 2000 MW power plant facilities.

Not to be missed…

• Anglo American has worked with Rhodes University’s Institute for Environmental Biotechnology to develop a technique that minimises disruption to local communities when mines are rehabilitated and restored: Fungcoal.
• For an industry struggling with low prices, higher demand from India and southeast Asia could be just what the doctor ordered.

Written by Harleigh Hobbs.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/14082015/weekly-coal-news-highlights-10-14-august-2015-2738/