Clean coal fraud: Bob Walker, the former CEO of Bixby Energy Systems, which promoted a ‘clean coal’ plant technology, is being tried in the US District Court on charges of fraud, conspiracy, tax evasion and witness tampering. Despite the company’s test coal gasification units in China not working, prosecutors allege Walker continued to tout the technology to investors.(Minneapolis Star Tribune) Indian Coal Ministry pushes for fast-track for rail links: The Ministry of Coal is pressing the Indian Government’s Cabinet Committee on Investment to prioritise the construction of three railway upgrades to help expand Coal India’s coal production. Two of the projects are in Jharkhand and one in Odisha. The ministry is pushing for a resolution on approvals for the use of forests and land acquisition disputes. (Economic Times) Losses mount from Sri Lanka coal plant:Just a day after being restarted, the plant broke down for the 26th time. With the Ceylon Electricity Board having to spend US$3.3 million a day to buy alternative diesel power during shutdowns, the financial losses from the Lakwijaya Coal Power Plant continue to mount. The Sunday Star Times has editorialised that the problems at the plant demonstrate the need for right to information laws. (The Sunday Leader, Sunday Star Times) |