Weekly coal news highlights: 14 – 18 September 2015

A round-up of weekly coal news highlights

Developments, projects and operations

• SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Corp. and Firebird Mongolia Fund Ltd complete a joint development agreement for the development and financing of the Tevshiin Gobi power plant project in Mongolia.
• KE, CDTO, and CMEC enter into a binding tripartite joint development agreement for the development of the coal-fired power project at Port Qasim.
• Following an additional investigation of the competitive landscape, the current market situation and potential risks, Sandvik will carry on its operations in Turku, Finland.
• Thermal Powertech Corp. India commences full commercial operation.
• Blaschak Coal Corp. expands its mining activities in two new locations in the anthracite coal measures of Northeastern Pennsylvania, adding almost 3 million t of clean coal to its reserves.

Coal consumption and production

• As a result of decreased coal demand worldwide, coal miners in Indonesia have reduced production. For the first eight months of 2015, production declined 15.4% to 263 million t.
• A new report by the US Energy Information Agency (EIA) has indicated China’s coal consumption has slowed following almost a decade of fast expansion – a result of changing GDP, industry restructuring and new energy and environmental policies.
• The US Energy Information Agency provides a forecast on short-term outlooks on US coal consumption, exports, supply and prices.

Corporate affairs

• Vedanta appoints Cynthia Carroll as the Chair of Vedanta Resources Holdings Ltd, a global natural resources and mining company.
• Haver & Boecker Canada selects Darcy Bishop, formerly the Manager of the Screen Media Division and Edmonton Branch, to Vice President of Internal Sales.
• Wescoal Holdings Ltd appoints Izak van der Walt as the new CFO of the company.
• The Weir Group elects Ricardo Garib as new Minerals Division Managing Director.
• Foresight Energy LP, a Delaware limited partnership, appoints Mr G Nicholas Casey, Jr. as a new independent member of the Board of Directors of its general partner.

Acquisitions and agreements

• Sibanye Gold signs a term sheet with the Waterberg Coal Group to meet the company’s electricity supply targets by investing in the group for a steady supply of coal.
• Superior Industries Inc. acquires Illinois crusher manufacturing facility from FLSmidth.
• Patriot Coal Corp. has a potential new bidder for the bulk of its asset (including mines in West Virginia and reserves in other states), competing with Blackhawk Mining’s bid.
• Poland's Enea could offer to buy 64.6% of private coal miner Bogdanka, valuing the stake at 1.48 billion zlotys (US$399.7 million).

Not to be missed …

• The US Energy Information Agency provides a forecast on a short-term energy outlook on US Electricity generation, consumption and retail prices.
• GE chemists develop a solution that uses a class of amino silicone compounds at various temperatures to capture carbon.

Written by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/18092015/weekly-coal-news-highlights-14-18-september-2015-2879/