Special reports - 30 September 2009

East Asia continues to be a vital region for the world economy and the world energy market. This article looks at the four major East Asian economies, their energy markets, and their hydrocarbon processing industries.

Rising demand for electricity at home and abroad will bolster Southeast Asian coal markets in the current financial climate.

Contrary to popular belief, the world is not running out of oil and gas; plenty still remains in the Middle East, Russia and Venezuela. The world is running out of cheap sources located in politically stable countries with open fiscal and regulatory regimes.

If captured and recovered for energy, coal mine methane is a cost-effective resource. Coal mines around the world are increasingly focusing on the commercially available, cost-effective opportunities to capture and use this often wasted resource.

Ongoing government plans to develop CCS technology reflect growing awareness that coal is essential to the future energy mix.

December sees the UN climate talks in Copenhagen. Tasked with developing a new climate agreement to replace Kyoto post-2012, government negotiators, NGOs, industry, media, and other interested parties will convene to try to work out how the world can meet the challenge of climate change. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) from coal mining activity should be an important part of the discussions.

Increased difficulties in obtaining utility right-of-way and the concept of utility corridors have brought pipelines into close proximity with electric power transmission/distribution systems. Metallic objects subjected to the alternating electromagnetic field will exhibit an induced voltage. Also, power conductor faults to ground can cause substantial fault currents in the underground structure.