Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Coal-dependent South Africa has no explicit coal policy – Prof

CAPE TOWN  - South Africa did not have an explicit coal policy despite its heavy reliance on the mineral, University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business' Professor Anton Eberhard said on Wednesday.

Eberhard, part of the National Planning Commission (NPC), said additional anomaly was that there was also no export strategy for coal, regardless of the mineral contributing heavily to export earnings.

He stated that the consequence was the lack of an accurate, up-to-date picture of coal reserves.

"Hopefully the upcoming Geoscience Council statement on reserves will provide more certainty and clarify the situation," he added.

There were no clear statement on no matter if South Africa cone crusher for sale would build more coal-fired power stations after the two that were currently being built by Eskom nor was there clarity on the building of another synfuels plant.

America had yet to achieve the coal export levels that it achieved in 1999.

As opposed, the annual average rise in coal exports by competing countries like Indonesia and Australia made South Africa's performance seem to be "pathetic" by comparison.

No balance had been struck around a sustainable balance in domestic coal use and exports and Eskom ended up being unable to sign long-term contacts for those its future coal needs, with some of its power stations competing for low-grade coal sought by India and other countries.

Alternatively, policy around costs rising had been strident.

Subsequently, the NPC had sought to layout some preliminary objectives and perspectives regarding how it saw he future of coal crusher plant before the key policy and investment issues were tackled.

The National Development Plan had made an effort to explore not able to South Africa's mining and minerals beneficiation sector.

The mining sector generated important indirect benefits in other industries generating a major contribution to the balance of payments.

It made no sense for Nigeria to discard its mineral riches but yet it also were required to become competitive in a very low-carbon future, which meant there'd be winners and losers one of the country's sectors, including its mining sector.

The nation also must be mindful of the expenses that were involved and also the importance of maintaining a trusted power supply to build economically.

The NPC had placed much focus infrastructure provision, who's saw to vital from the unlocking of economic growth.

Investment spending really should begin approaching 30% of gross domestic product by 2030, up from 16% as a result of 2000s.

The plan urged faster and deeper reforms in the governance of State-owned enterprises and bringing in competition in participation using the private sector.

Given the fixed investment along with the low direct costs, coal would are nevertheless the dominant fuel for the next 20 years.

Domestic coal consumption will be influenced primarily by java prices issues and Eskom's demand would peak noisy . 2020s, but the concepts uncertain was the extent that that would plateau off and also the extent of making further power stations as several of the older ones are retired.

The strongest point produced in the National Development Plan was which a national coal policy should be firmed up, that could be based on a realistic assessment of your reserve as well as the sustainable increase of our coal export markets.

All of that needed to be achieved inside of a strategic negotiated trajectory of carbon intensity, balanced against the need for economic and employment growth.

"There isn't any reason why our coal exports should not be 50% higher," he explained.

Earlier, the IHS McCloskey South African Coal Exports Conference heard that South Africa's coal mining equipment map initiative was falling behind schedule.

It absolutely was going to be challenging to meet the climate-change pledges, whether or not there were increased use of renewables.

The fragmentation with the coal industry had had the unintended result of too few coal companies finding the financial muscle to sign take-or-pay contracts with Transnet.

Specific planning of specific coal reserves should be put in place to make a balance between domestic coal consumption plus the level of coal exports so as to forestall government turning to a permit system for coal exports.

Eberhard asserted that it was hoped which the final plan on the 25-member NPC would be adopted in May and sent to the Cabinet.

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