News Flash 24 May 2010
Researchers identify new low-cost catalyst for hydrogen production
To make sunlight practical as a dominant source of energy a viable storage technology needs to be developed. One promising area of research is imitating the process of photosynthesis to separate the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water to create hydrogen fuel. An MIT team led by Daniel Nocera is now reporting that nickel borate can efficiently and sustainably function as the oxygen-producing electrode in such a process bringing the dream of energy storage systems that would allow buildings to be completely independent and self-sustaining in terms of energy. Read More 17/5/2010
The Economic Times
Coal allocation policy likely to be tweaked
NEW DELHI: The government plans changes in coal allocation policy to offer alternate coal blocks to companies that are denied such blocks by the
environment and forests ministry, a move that will remove uncertainty over several infrastructure projects. Read More 24/5/2010
Business Recorder
World Bank may continue support to Thar coal project
The World Bank may continue its support for the multi-billion dollars project, Thar coal project, to help resolve the worst ever energy crisis in the country, it is learnt. The Bank had recently withdrawn its strong support for Thar Coal, citing many………….. Read More 24/5/2010
Business Report
Swazi investment criticised
Chancellor House, the investment arm of the ANC, has bought a majority stake in a coal mine in Swaziland, a move that has set the party on collision course with its ally, Cosatu. Read More 23/5/2010
Business Report
BHP set to join new oil-gas explorers in SA
SA wants to decrease oil imports dependence
BHP Billiton, the world's biggest diversified miner, plans to drill for gas off South Africa's west coast and will get exploration permits by August, an official said. Read More 24/5/2010
News24.com
Eskom clients to lower usage during SWC
Electricity supplier Eskom has asked its key industrial customers to reduce electricity consumption during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but has not ruled out load-shedding. At the same time it has entered into power supply agreements with neighbouring countries. Read More 24/5/2010
MiningMx
Eskom goes for rail
ESKOM has come up with an innovative short-term solution to the problem of getting more coal for one of its power stations sent by rail rather than by road.
Read More 24/5/2010
Extracts from Creamer’s ‘Engineering News’’
CLIMATE CHANGE
UN to pick Costa Rican as new climate chief – sources
United Nations (UN) secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has chosen Costa Rican diplomat Christiana Figueres as the new UN climate chief to head stalled, international talks, sources close to the matter said on Monday. Figueres, 53, beat fellow short-listed candidate former South African Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, to a role meant to rally global agreement on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol after a disappointing summit in Copenhagen in December. Full Article 17/2010
PRIVATE POWER
Eskom concludes two power-purchase contracts, four more close
State-owned power utility Eskom has finalised power purchase contracts with two independent power producers (IPPs) under its medium-term power purchase programme (MTPPP) and is close to concluding four others, system operations and planning head Kannan Lakmeeharan has confirmed. The two contracts are currently being considered by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), which is expected to provide its official stamp of approval within days. Full Article 19/5/2010
NUCLEAR
Nuclear will make up a significant part of SA power mix – DoE
With South Africa expecting the second version of the integrated resource plan (IRP2) by the end of September, the Department of Energy (DoE) indicated on Friday that nuclear power generation would play an important role in the country's future energy mix. "Nuclear and renewable energy technologies will all play a role in the future of the country's new energy mix, it is not an either-,or-, situation," DoE director general Nelisiswe Magubane sad at a nuclear forum, in Pretoria. Full Article 21/5/2010
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Eastern Cape wind turbine connected to grid
The first turbine of the Coega wind farm project in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) in the Eastern Cape has been erected and was being connected to the grid on Friday. Electrawinds Africa project developer Emil Unger told Engineering News Online that the project, which was the first of a larger 25-turbine farm, would be officially opened by the End of May. Full Article
Extracts from Creamer’s ‘Mining Weekly’
COAL
SA April coal exports to India fall sharply
South Africa's coal exports to India from Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) fell to 1,7-million tons in April from 2,5-million in March, exporters said. But India's share of Richards Bay coal shipments remained stable at 44% of the total, they said. Full Article 17/5/2010
COAL
Indonesia sees 2010 coal output of 320Mt
JAKARTA - Indonesia expects total coal ouput to reach 320 million tonnes in 2010, compared to 300-million tons in 2009, Bob Kamandanu, chairperson of Indonesian Coal Mining Association said on Monday.
"Coal demand is bullish, especially from China and India amd of course as a producer we will provide," Kamandanu said.
He said that illegal mining, which is not counted by the government, produced an average 40-million tons of coal every year, contributing to the total coal production.
In November, the association had said that Indonesia was expected to produce between 270-million and 280-million tons of coal in 2010, up from 250-million and 260-million tons in 2009. Those figures did not include coal produced by illegal miners. Read More 24/5/2010
LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT
BHP says Australia should only tax value of minerals
Australia’s proposed super profits tax would “dramatically” slow investment in the country’s resources sector, diversified miner BHP Billiton said on Friday, proposing that a tax should be levied on the value of minerals. The miner, which has criticised Australia’s new taxation policy on mining profits, explained that, when levied on mineral value, it would not unintentionally penalise investments in infrastructure, processing or other enabling activities. Full Article 21/5/2010
