Reliance Power dumps Indian ‘Ultra-Mega’ project: Reliance Power has announced that the 4000 MW Krishnapatnam ‘Ultra Mega Power Project’ in Andhra Pradesh, which it won the right to develop in 2007, is no longer viable due to the increased cost of imported Indonesian coal. Reliance Power wants the state government to buy the project and its assets, with the Andhra Pradesh Energy Secretary Ajay Jain expressing optimism that the plant could be viable if it was allocated domestic coal. (Livemint, CoalSwarm)
Brazil court sets deadline on coal port pollution cleanup: A Brazilian appeals court has given Vale 60 days to prepare a pollution control plan for its iron ore and coal terminals at the port of Tubarao. The decision overturned a lower court decision shutting the terminals down from January 21 until pollution control measures were implemented. In the first nine months of 2015, 8.9 million tonnes of metallurgical coal was imported through the port for ArcelorMittal and other steel producers. The court rulings follow a police investigation of Vale’s port operations after the devastating collapse in October 2015 of a tailings dam at Vale and BHP Billiton’s Samarco iron ore mine in the neighbouring state of Minas Gerais. (Reuters, Reuters)
Thai military regime fast-tracks coal plants: Using the provisions of the interim constitution adopted by the Thai military regime, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has issued an order to override planning and environmental constraints for 14 power stations including the proposed Krabi and Songkhla coal plants. The proposed plants in the country’s south have encountered broad opposition, with residents and environmental groups calling on the Prime Minister to reverse his decision. (Bangkok Post, The Nation) |