Latest news with #coal
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
African Mining Week to Highlight Coal's Role in Regional Energy Security, Industrialization
As Africa leverages coal to drive industrialization and support sustainable development, African Mining Week (AMW) – the continent's premier platform for mining stakeholders – will highlight investment opportunities within the coal sector. Scheduled for October 1–3, 2025 in Cape Town, the event will unite project developers, investors, policymakers and technology providers to advance coal-focused deals and partnerships. A dedicated panel discussion, 'Coal's Indispensable Role: Powering Africa's Downstream Processing and Manufacturing Boom,' will explore how coal contributes to energy security, economic growth and job creation across the continent. Coal remains a critical driver of energy security in Africa. The continent is expected to increase coal use by 6 million tons to 191 million tons per annum by 2027 under efforts to enhance the resilience of the electricity network, according to the International Energy Agency. In South Africa – Africa's largest producer and the world's sixth - the coal sector has been crucial in addressing load shedding, with a 7% increase in coal use in 2023 and 2024 strengthening the grid. On the global stage, African coal also plays an important role, accounting for over 3.5% of the world's total production, with producers such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana kickstarting new projects and optimizing existing assets. South Africa exports 28% of its coal production and ranks as the world's fourth largest coal exporting market. Glencore increased its South African coal production by 5% in Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year, reaching 4.2 million tons. In March 2025, Seriti Resources inaugurated the R500 million Naudesbank Colliery in Mpumalanga province, shortly after coal was designated a critical mineral by South Africa's Ministry of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. Meanwhile, Canyon Coal is preparing to break ground on the R1.5 billion Sukuma Mine, targeting 7.2 million tons of annual output. In Zimbabwe, Contago Holdings' Muchesu project – backed by Huo Investments – is ramping up production to meet both domestic and export demand. Recognizing coal's strategic importance in shaping a just and inclusive energy transition and economic diversification, global public and private sector players are ramping up investment. In a landmark policy reversal in May 2025, the U.S. Export-Import Bank lifted its ban on financing overseas coal projects, opening new channels for international funding for African projects. South Africa's Exxaro and Eskom have entered into a joint agreement to invest in emissions reduction technologies, supporting cleaner coal usage aligned with just energy transition objectives. In Mpumalanga, Blue Ammonia Production is progressing with its R31.5 billion Suiso Coal-to-Fertilizer project, poised to create 4,000 jobs and enhance regional agricultural productivity. Botswana is similarly advancing a $2.5 billion coal-to-liquids plant, designed to strengthen the country's energy and fuel security. With African coal producers generating substantial revenue from coal exports, the industry will be crucial in funding the continent's renewable energy deployment and energy mix diversification, facilitating a just and inclusive energy transition African Mining Week 2025 will serve as a strategic platform to explore these developments and examine coal's evolving role in Africa's industrial future. The event will place a strong emphasis on sustainable coal practices that balance development with environmental stewardship and long-term transition goals. African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@ Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
ABC News
10 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Callide Power Station unit operating again after explosion forced shut down
One of Queensland's biggest power generators is operational again after it was forced offline in April by another explosion. The embattled government-owned Callide Power Station in central Queensland, near the town of Biloela, came back online over the weekend. The C3 coal-fired generator was badly damaged by a powerful "pressure spike" inside its boiler on April 4. The incident left the C3 boiler with considerable structural damage, but did not result in power outages with the company saying at the time they had "sufficient forecast generation" to meet expected demand. On Monday, a spokesperson for the state-owned CS Energy said the Callide C3 unit "returned to service Sunday, June 1, shortly before 3am". The Queensland government's deadline was to have repairs completed by May 30. However, on May 19, CS Energy informed the market of a revised return to service of June 2. The company said approximately 100 people were working on rotating shifts to repair the areas of the C3 unit damaged in the major operational safety event. It's not the first explosion at the plant in recent years. In May 2021, multiple generators and high voltage transmission lines in Queensland were tripped following an explosion in the C4 unit at Callide. The incident caused nearly 500,000 customers to lose power, from the NSW border to north of Cairns. Premier David Crisafulli yesterday welcomed the plant's return to service, and said his government would focus on long-term maintenance of the plant. "Obviously that's good news, but that doesn't change my focus that unless we spend long-term maintenance on those assets, we're not going to have them as reliable as what they should be," Mr Crisafulli said. "But I stress we are still some time away before the investment return on to those plants can give the reliability that they deserve." Callide Power Station has two power plants — B and C — which each have two generating units. State-owned CS Energy owns and operates Callide B, and it owns Callide C in a 50-50 joint venture with Czech company 7GI. The most recent explosion in April led to CS Energy's CEO and general managers resigning.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Trump is forcing this dirty, costly coal plant to stay open
An emergency order last month from Washington rattled Michigan regulators: The Trump administration reversed the state's plan to retire an aging power plant, forcing it to remain open and continue burning coal. Michigan and the plant's operator have mounds of evidence that closing the 63-year-old J.H. Campbell plant on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan won't create a shortage of electricity. But the Trump administration adopted a different view, claiming the Midwest is overly dependent on intermittent wind and solar power. Energy Secretary Chris Wright exercised rarely used federal authority to block the closure, which had been scheduled for May 31. His order requires the plant to continue operating for three more months — and possibly longer. The move will collectively increase electric bills for ratepayers in the Midwest by tens of millions of dollars, according to Michigan officials. More broadly, it was seen as an opening salvo in President Donald Trump's effort to reverse America's transition to clean energy and restore the nation's dependence on burning fossil fuels. The administration's strategy includes using federal power to overturn the plans of local utilities and regulators. 'It came as a surprise to everybody, and it was baffling why they chose this plant,' said Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities. 'Nobody asked for this order. The power grid operator did not. The utility that owns the plant did not. The state regulator did not.' Trump attempted to unravel state-level zero-emissions goals in his first term with little to show for it. This time around, his strategy, guided in part by Project 2025, is more far-reaching, based on federal mandates and an expansive vision for what types of energy should be prioritized on regional electrical grids. The White House claims that the intermittent nature of solar and wind generation will lead to energy shortages and fail to meet the surging electricity demands of artificial intelligence. Experts said they could not recall another case in history where an administration unilaterally ordered the extension of a power plant's service without being asked by the owner or state officials. The administration has already laid the groundwork for the Michigan order to be followed by other such emergency orders in other states in the coming months. Late on Friday, Wright used the authority to halt the long-planned retirement of the Eddystone Generating Station near Philadelphia, a 1960s-era power plant that burns gas and fuel oil. Trump allies in individual state legislatures, meanwhile, are introducing local laws that would prioritize electricity from fossil fuels on power grids. 'This administration is committed to ensuring Americans have access to reliable, affordable, and secure energy that isn't dependent on whether the sun shines or the wind blows,' the Energy Department said a statement to The Washington Post. The administration's view that renewable energy destabilizes energy supplies is disputed by many experts, who say batteries and enhanced distribution systems allow power grids to thrive on wind and solar energy. 'The view that we need to prioritize these traditional resources is stuck in the past,' said Ari Peskoe, director of the Electricity Law Initiative at Harvard Law School. 'The cost of falling back on this kind of techno-pessimism is you lose momentum to build a more modern grid. Instead, you are doubling down on plants that need to be replaced because they are dirty and expensive.' Michigan's Campbell plant, according to the Sierra Club, is the largest source of greenhouse gas and local air pollution in western Michigan. It opened in 1962 and at one point was planned to run until as late as 2040. But plant owner Consumers Energy opted to close it this year as part of a 2022 settlement with the community and its broader plan to transition off coal altogether. Scripps said economics were a major driver in the early retirement, as the utility can generate energy more cheaply from gas, wind and solar. Wright's emergency order keeps the plant open three months, the maximum amount of time the law allows. But he has the option of issuing new three-month orders each time one expires. Some lawmakers in Michigan are expecting exactly that. Trump, in an April executive action, directed Wright to issue such orders or take any other action necessary to keep open many large fossil plants scheduled for closure if the energy they generate is being replaced by wind or solar power. Some local lawmakers are supporters of the federal intervention. 'I hope it stays open for more than just a few months,' Republican Michigan state Rep. Luke Meerman said of the Campbell plant. He signed an April 30 letter with colleagues urging the administration to keep it open. 'Given it has a lifespan out to 2040, it seems premature and a waste of resources to shut it down.' The interventions in local power supplies dovetail with other steps. The administration aims to largely eliminate climate change as a consideration in any power grid planning, potentially resulting in the release of massive amounts of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. The Energy Department also has taken control from independent regulators and grid operators the job of drafting of certain power grid supply rules. The White House has ordered the department to develop new formulas that could bump wind and solar projects to the back of the line. 'Technologies like battery energy storage that enhance grid operations but do not fit into that myopic definition of reliability likely won't get the same access,' said Aaron Zubaty, CEO of Eolian, a large clean energy developer. Declaring state and municipal clean energy goals 'burdensome and ideologically motivated' in an April order, Trump directed the Justice Department to lay the groundwork for legal action against as many as 25 states that have adopted them. 'There has been this bias for years against fossil energy that has gotten us into a dangerous situation with a weakened grid,' said Diana Furchtgott‑Roth, director of the Center for Energy, Climate and Environment at the conservative Heritage Foundation 'It needs to be rectified.' The administration plans for reshaping how the United States generates electricity mirrors elements of the Heritage-led Project 2025 blueprint for remaking government. Project 2025 includes detailed plans for invoking emergency powers to reorient the electricity system toward fossil fuels and usurping authority from grid operators and state regulators, whose job it is to avoid blackouts and spikes in prices. The policies are driven by a conservative backlash against Obama- and Biden-era rules that conservatives argue distorted free markets at the expense of fossil fuels, said Brent Bennett, director of the energy policy team at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank aligned with Trump. 'It's kind of become an ideological battle,' he said. That battle is also playing out on the state level in places such as Nebraska, which passed a law last year requiring that any gas, coal or nuclear power plant that is retired be replaced by plants that can provide an equal amount of around-the-clock electricity. Utah and Wyoming also passed laws in 2024 that aggressively prioritize such 'dispatchable' electricity over intermittent sources like wind and solar. Texas is requiring that all new wind and solar connected to the power grid starting in 2027 be paired with other resources that can backstop it. A measure that would prohibit developers from using battery storage systems as the backup passed the state Senate this year. The administration justified the Campbell plant order by pointing to a report from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, or NERC, a quasi-government agency focused on keeping the power grid from buckling, that warns the Midwest is facing a power crunch this summer. NERC officials said they welcomed the administration's move. But back in Michigan, regulators warn it will merely raise bills without making the system any more stable. Consumers Energy said in an email to The Post that it will comply with the administration's order and it can secure the coal needed to keep the plant operational. But that could prove a challenge amid reports that contracts for coal and the railcars to the plant have expired. Regulators say several employees who run the plant have already moved on to jobs elsewhere or opted for early retirement packages. 'This is just bad policy,' said Howard Learner, CEO of the Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center. 'It is moving us backward by imposing what may be significant costs on ratepayers to run a coal plant which is no longer economic and regulators have found is not necessary.'
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
India, a major user of coal power, is making large gains in clean energy adoption. Here is how
One of the most carbon-polluting countries, India is also making huge efforts to harness the power of the sun, wind and other clean energy sources. Most of the electricity in India, the world's most populous nation, still comes from coal, one of the dirtiest forms of energy. But coal's dominance is dropping, going from 60% of installed power capacity 11 years ago to less than 50% today, according to India's power ministry. At the same time, India had its largest ever addition of clean power in the fiscal year between April 2024 and April of this year, adding 30 gigawatts — enough to power nearly 18 million Indian homes. With a growing middle class and skyrocketing energy needs, how fast India can move away from coal and other fossil fuels, such as gasoline and oil, could have a large impact on global efforts to confront climate change. Here is a snapshot of India's clean energy transition and some of the challenges. Renewable energy is now the most economical option Solar is now half the cost of power from new coal-powered plants. Availability of cheap components and many sunny days each year in India are some reasons experts say installed solar power increased 30 times in the last decade. 'Solar power is the cheapest it's ever been,' said Ruchita Shah, an energy analyst at climate think-tank Ember. Shah added that dropping costs for energy storage, in the form of batteries, means that renewable power will be the 'new normal," even when the sun doesn't shine or the wind doesn't blow. India has nearly 170 gigawatts of renewable energy projects in the pipeline, which are expected to be completed in the next few years. 'I have no doubt that India will reach its target of 500 gigawatts by 2030,' said Raghav Pachouri, an energy expert at Vasudha Foundation, a New Delhi-based think-tank. Government policies and private investments push renewables Experts say the growth in renewables is being spurred by India's plans to add approximately 50 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel power capacity every year for the next five years and for clean power to provide 50% of the nation's energy by the decade. When burned, fossil fuels let off greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, the main driver of climate change. A 2022 law that made electricity cheaper for companies choosing to buy clean power, the federal government's recommendation that state utilities buy more renewable power and a 2023 government plan to invest $452 million have all catalyzed investments in renewables. India has the fourth highest amount of clean power installed in the world and government officials said $81 billion has been invested in the renewable energy sector in the last decade. Multiple large-scale renewable power projects have begun operations or are under construction, including one of the world's largest wind and solar power farms. 'We've seen domestic manufacturing capacity, at least when it comes to modules for solar panels, increasing,' said Madhura Joshi, a senior energy analyst at the European think-tank E3G. Still, renewables are underutilized Despite the rapid growth, challenges persist. While non-fossil fuel sources now comprise 45% of India's total installed capacity, their share in actual electricity generation stood at 24% last year. Coal remains the dominant source, accounting for 75% of electricity generation. The share of solar, wind, small hydro power and biomass in India's electricity generation mix stood at 12%, double what it was in 2014 but still lower than expectations by this time, according to a report by New Delhi-based think-tank, the Centre for Science and Environment. Installed capacity is growing, but power generation from renewables needs to be optimized and integrated effectively into the grid, the report found. At a clean energy crossroads A recent report by the nonprofit clean energy think-tank, RMI, found that electricity demand is expected to triple by 2050 — driven by more electric vehicles, air conditioners and industrial growth. Acquiring land for clean energy projects remains a challenge. India also needs to rapidly build robust electricity transmission infrastructure and energy storage facilities to continue increasing clean power capacity. 'India is expected to become the world's third-largest economy in a few years, and I think we will need to adopt renewable energy to do this. There is no option for us because fossil fuels can't keep pace" with energy needs, said Deepak Thakur, chief executive officer of Mumbai-based renewable energy company, Mahindra Susten. ___ ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Glencore integrates Canadian mines into Australian-led coal division
Swiss mining giant Glencore has announced the consolidation of its coal business, integrating its newly acquired Canadian mines into a single unit managed from Australia. The strategic move aims to enhance the company's management efficiency of its assets, according to a Reuters report. The restructuring follows Glencore's acquisition of Teck Resources' steelmaking coal assets for $6.9bn. Initially, the company considered spinning off its coal assets, but this plan was later shelved. A Glencore spokesperson stated: 'Combined with the acquisition of EVR, we commenced a process to restructure the coal business and align it with the management structure, given the coal industrial assets are managed out of Australia.' Despite a decrease in production from 106.1 million tonnes (mt) in 2023 to 99.6mt in 2024, Glencore remains one of the top producers and exporters of thermal coal, with significant operations in South Africa. The decision to reorganise the coal division under a unified Australian unit came after Glencore secured support from the majority of its investors, who continue to see value in the coal sector. 'We chose to complete the restructure despite the shareholder engagement resulting in a decision not to proceed with the spin-off," the spokesperson added. In January 2025, Glencore signalled its willingness to pursue mergers and acquisitions that would benefit shareholders. In February, two former executives from Glencore and Lundin Gold founded Moranda Metals, a private mining shell company based in Canada. The newly formed company aims to acquire assets in base and precious metals, including gold, silver and copper, across the Americas, with plans to utilise $15bn in capital from private equity firms for these acquisitions. "Glencore integrates Canadian mines into Australian-led coal division" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
