editor’s note

features

BHP Billiton’s mission to save the coal industry

“BHP Billiton – the world’s largest mining company – sees itself as being on a James Bond-style mission to snatch the future of the coal industry from the jaws of defeat at the UN’s Paris climate change conference in December,” writes Bob Burton on EndCoal.

Suggested Tweet: #BHPBilliton’s mission to save the #coal industry @bobburtonoz http://bit.ly/1L6FcB6

BHP Billiton’s Boundary Dam carbon fudge

“As the UN’s global climate change conference looms and the political isolation of the coal industry grows, BHP Billiton has unveiled plans to spruik the Boundary Dam Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project in Canada as a ‘solution’ to climate change,” writes Bob Burton in Renew Economy.

Suggested Tweet: #BHPBilliton’s Boundary Dam carbon fudge @bobburtonoz @renew_economy http://bit.ly/1LqSs2l #CCS

Sacred Lands vs. King Coal in US Pacific Northwest

“Under the breaking waves of Lummi Bay in northwest Washington, salmon, clams, geoducks and oysters are washed in rhythmic cascades from the Pacific Ocean. Just north of here is Cherry Point, home for three intimately related threatened and endangered species: herring, Chinook salmon, and orcas. It is also the home of the Lummi Nation, who call themselves the Lhaq’temish (LOCK-tuh-mish), or the People of the Sea … The Lummi Nation is currently fighting the largest proposed coal export terminal on the continent,” writes Stephen Quirke in the Earth Island Journal.

Suggested Tweet:  Sacred Lands vs. King #Coal in US Pacific Northwest writes Stephen Quirke @earthislandjrnl http://bit.ly/1ivHSvh

It’s past time for OECD countries to axe support for overseas coal

“Just a few months before landmark climate change negotiations in Paris – a little-known working group within the OECD met to discuss a big issue: should rich countries continue to push dirty coal technologies overseas, or should they finally set some limits on financing climate destruction?” writes Alex Doukas in Oil Change International.

Suggested Tweet:  It’s past time for OECD countries to axe support for overseas coal and to #StopFundingFossils writes @adoukas @PriceofOil http://bit.ly/1FX9sqB

top news

Coal corruption charges to proceed against ex-Bangladeshi PM: The Bangladesh High Court has cleared the way for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 5 others to be tried on corruption charges. The Anti-Corruption Commission alleges that the contract entered into with China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) to operate the Barapukuria mine deprived the national government of over US$20 million. Zia is leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and argues the charges are politically motivated. The mine and its proposed expansion have been strongly resisted by local villagers. (Economic Times, CoalSwarm)

China’s fading coal industry offers climate hope: “Coal use has reached its peak,” said Jiang Kejun, a senior researcher at China’s Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, which oversees economic planning and climate change policy. While coal consumption has stalled greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and public concern about air pollution remains. In its next five-year plan, due to be completed in early 2016, the Chinese Government will elaborate on how it will reduce air pollution and whether to implement an emissions trading scheme or an administratively simpler carbon tax. (New York Times)

Investigation finds pilot error caused coal ship accident in Canada: A Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada report into the June 2014 grounding of a coal ship In British Columbia found the ship followed an unusual route before hitting a shoal. A local pilot was on the bridge of the Japanese-owned Amakusa Island at the time of the accident. While the collision caused a 30-metre split in a section of the hull, the TSB said the accident could have ruptured the oil tanks if the ship was travelling faster. (CBC, CoalSwarm)

Dramatic increase in air pollution concern in India: A Pew Research Center survey has found a 22 per cent increase over the last year in the number of Indians who say air pollution is a very big problem.  A further 19 per cent said it was a “moderately big problem.” 73 per cent said they are “very concerned” about air pollution, with the level increasing to “nearly” 90 per cent of those living in the hotter north of the country. The poll was based on face-to-face surveys of 2452 people in April and May. (Pew Research Center)

news

Philippines: Department of Environment and Natural Resources calls for coal plant permits freeze.

Philippines: Department of Energy allows largest mine to resume production after deadly landslide.

South Africa: Legal challenge lodged against granting of mining licence in protected wetland.

US: Residents voice strong opposition to proposed coal port at Oakland City Council hearing.

companies + markets

Australian governments face rehabilitation funding shortfall: An environmental adviser to the mining industry has warned that rehabilitation bonds held by state governments – including for major coal mines in Queensland – could be tens of billions of dollars less than required. Concern has been raised that companies are seeking approvals for mine expansions as a way of deferring rehabilitation liabilities. (ABC News)

European power companies looking to offload coal plants: Swedish power utility Vattenfall is reported to be reviving plans to auction 8100 MW of lignite-fired plants and associated mines in Germany, but only on condition that bidders buy hydro assets as part of the bundle. Environmental groups have sought to block the sale in order to keep the coal in the ground. French utility EDF is struggling to sell about 1700 MW of coal-fired stations belonging to its Polish subsidiary. (Reuters, Reuters)

Another cost overrun for US coal-to-gas plant: Duke Energy will be forced to absorb a further US$85 million in cost overruns on its Edwardsport coal-to-gas plant in Indiana. The plant, which was originally estimated to cost US$1.9 billion, ended up costing $3.5 billion. The 618 MW plant – one of the world’s largest coal gasification plants – was commissioned in June 2013 but has run well below expected capacity and had higher than planned operating costs which Duke sought to pass on to consumers. (Journal Gazette)