Weekly coal news highlights: 12 – 16 October 2015

Coal mine operations and projects

• The Australian federal government has re-approved the giant Carmichael coal project after its initial approval was revoked by the Federal Court.
• A new longwall face has been launched at Mechel’s Olzherasskaya-Novaya coal mine in the Kuzbass region of Russia.
• Foresight Energy re-enters Deer Run mine and commenced construction of underground ventilation control stoppings.
• Cloud Peak Energy’s Cordero Rojo coal mine is to receive the 2015 Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Award for its restoration work on the Belle Fourche River.
• Australian contract mine, Bounty Mining, has continued to develop the Wongai hard coking coal project.
• Production at Guidlford Coal’s Baruun Noyon Uul metallurgical coal mine is on track to reach 125 000 tpm by the end of year.

Clean coal developments

• Southern Company Services, signs a memorandum of understanding with Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) to jointly explore the deployment of clean coal power generation and carbon capture and storage technologies.
• Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has selected the ACWA Power and Harbin Electric consortium as the preferred bidder for the first phase of the 1200 MW Hassyan clean coal power project in Dubai.
• ION Engineering has successfully completed the first pilot scale testing of its proprietary solvent and process technology for the removal of CO₂ from large point sources, including coal-fired power plants – capturing over 99% of CO₂.
• Grupa Azoty, to set to build the Europe’s first coal gasification plant for industrial purposes in Kedzierzyn-Kozle in an investment worth €500 million.

Outlooks on coal

• The Association of UK Coal Importers has emphasised coal’s role in reducing household bills, supporting British industry and avoiding blackouts.
• A new outlook by the International Energy Agency misses the big picture according to Tim Buckley and Tom Sanzillo at IEEFA.
• US Rep. Ed Whitfield, chairman of the House Energy and Power Subcommittee, opposes the Environmental Protection Agency’s new cap and trade rules to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.
• Exports of Queensland coal are set to break last year’s records, according to the Queensland Resources Council, as demand for coal in southeast Asia continues to grow.
• Coal will become the largest energy source in southeast Asia’s energy mix by 2040, according to the IEA, as regional energy demand is set to grow by 80%.

Results

• US rail transportation company, CSX Corp., has announced earnings of US$507 million in 3Q15.
• Kibo Mining reports significantly improved financials for the Mbeya coal to power project’s coal mine component.
• SA’s mining industry sees steep decline in financial performance impacted by a slump in commodity prices and increased cost pressures.
• Rio Tinto releases its 3Q15 production results. Results indicate higher hard coking coal and semi-soft coking coal production compared to 3Q14, yet lower thermal coal production compared to last year.
• Dry bulk handling at Port of Rotterdam fell in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.

Not to be released

• Weir Minerals explains how its coal dewatering solutions can aid reductions in cost of ownership in the coal processing industry.
• The increased use of scrap steel in the steelmaking process could reduce demand growth for metallurgical coal and iron ore.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/16102015/weekly-coal-news-highlights-12-16-october-2015-3032/