Page 13 - AsiaElec Week 42 2021

AsiaElec NEWS IN BRIEF AsiaElec

Indeed, IRENA and ILO’s work finds BHP says China ban on “Since we are going to the (national) grid,
that more jobs will be gained by the that increases power demand in the country
energy transition than lost. An ILO global Australian coal imports and puts further pressure on coal plants which
sustainability scenario to 2030 estimates that already have low fuel,” AAI told Reuters in a
the 24-25mn new jobs will far surpass losses could last year statement.
of between six and 7mn jobs. Some 5mn of India produces over 70% of its electricity
the workers who lose their jobs will be able BHP CEO Mike Henry said there had been using coal, and Coal India - the world’s largest
to find new jobs in the same occupation in no new thermal or metallurgical coal sales coal miner - accounts for over four-fifths of
another industry. IRENA’s World Energy to China despite the country’s recent fuel the country’s output.
Transition Outlook forecasts that the shortage, the Australian Financial Review Electricity use in India’s eastern Odisha
renewable energy sector could employ 43mn reported. state, which accounts for over half of India’s
by 2050. Henry said BHP, which is the world’s aluminium smelting capacity, rose 25% during
IRENA largest exporter of metallurgical coal and a the first half of October, government data
major thermal coal producer, doesn’t expect showed, growing over five times faster than
any sales to China in the “near term” and is the national average.
COAL assuming “the restrictions stay in place for a Aluminium producers say fuel
few years.” procurement challenges were being
Indonesia’s higher coal metallurgical coal purchase indicates Chinese exacerbated by Coal India’s decision last week
S&P Global Platts data on recent
to cancel auctions and curtail supplies under
output target thwarted by buyers paid about 55% more than for cargoes long-term contracts.
from North Queensland.
heavy rains hampered by COVID-19 restrictions while a
Chinese imports from Mongolia have been
Indonesia , the world’s biggest exporter of coal fire at a Russian coal export terminal has also WIND
used for power generation, is facing challenges affected supplies
in hitting its output target for the fuel because K2 Management supports
of heavy rains that have slowed activity at key
mines in recent months, Reuters reported.. final phase of Vietnamese
Global coal prices have soared to records POWER
this year on a recovery in industrial fuel renewable energy project
demand and constrained mine output in top India aluminium producers
coal consumer China. Engineering and project management
Indonesia targeted a jump in output and draw costly power from consultancy K2 Management (K2M) has
exports to capitalize on the boom, but heavy begun commercial operation at the 22-turbine
rains have slowed mine and port operations, grid, hurting utilities low on wind farm in Ninh Thuan, a joint venture
mining executives told Reuters. between AC Energy and BIM Group, the
The Energy and Mineral Resources coal company said.
Ministry in April raised its 2021 output target Completion of this particular onshore
to a record 625 million tonnes, 11% higher India’s aluminium producers are drawing wind project is the final milestone of a
than 2020 output, from an initial target of expensive power from the national grid, significant technical challenge to build a
550 million tonnes, with the higher supply adding to pressure on utilities with low coal wind farm in a salt production hub, covering
intended primarily for exports. stocks as state-run Coal India curbs supplies, an area of 2,500 hectares. The wind farm is
But through September output has risen by the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) now providing power to the salt facilities and
only 8.7% from a year earlier to an estimated told Reuters. the grid, powering thousands of homes. It
456.77 million tonnes, energy ministry data A crippling shortage across the country will produce 327 GWh per year once fully
showed, while exports dropped 4.6% to 230.45 has pushed state-run Coal India to impose operational, enough to power around 50,000
million tonnes compared to last year. temporary supply curbs to non-power homes and avoid 298,551 tons of carbon
Indonesia’s meteorology agency said half consumers, including the energy-intensive dioxide (CO2) consumption annually.
of Indonesian territory, including parts of key aluminium industry, pushing producers to K2M provided its wind development
coal hubs Kalimantan and Sumatra, have seen draw electricity from the grid. expertise to the project, working for two
the rainy season start earlier this year and with Indian aluminium producers such as years towards end-to-end delivery, providing
higher intensity. Hindalco Industries and Vedanta Ltd largely owner’s engineer services that saw its teams
use power generated from so-called captive assist in technical specifications, multi-
power plants, which produce electricity solely contract negotiation, wind assessment, design
for self-use and are not connected to the grid. reviews, bankable reporting, and construction
COAL AAI estimates aluminium production follow-up.
annually accounts for 5-6% of India’s total
power demand met through the national grid.

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