Tag: coal

South Africa’s Richards Bay Coal Terminal informed earlier this week that 2018 coal exports decreased to 73.47 million tonnes from its record high of 76.47 million tonnes in 2017, due to less exports to South Korea. Namely, Africa’s largest coal export facility was aimed to export at least 77 million tonnes of coal in 2019, reaching its 2018 target.

World's coal seaborne trade increased by 3.7% in 2018, because of higher input in India, Indonesia and Russia according to Germany's Verein der Kohlenimporteure (VDKI) coal importers, as stated by Reuters. Imports and exports rose to 1.202 billion tonnes from 1.159 billion tonnes in 2017, VDKI Managing Director, Franz-Josef Wodopia, noted. 

According to the St. Lawrence Management Corporation’s Business Plan, the St. Lawrence Seaway Schedule of Tolls was modified in 2019. The SLSMC announced a toll rate increase of 1.0% for the 2019 navigation season.  In addition, the New Business, Volume, Gateway and Service incentives will continue to remain in effect.

According to EIA, 23.7 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity additions and 8.3 GW of capacity retirements are expected for the U.S. electric power sector in 2019. The additions are embodied by wind (46%), natural gas (34%), and solar photovoltaics (18%), with the remaining 2% consisting primarily of other renewables and battery storage capacity.

The raw coal production during April to November 2018, reached the 433.896 million tonne (mt) compared to 394.910 mt during the same period of 2017, according to the Ministry of Coal. The overall growth in Coal production during the period stood at 9.8%.

According to IEA global coal demand is expected to increase for the second year in a row in 2018, and remain stable over the next five years as declines in Europe and North America are offset by strong increase in India and Southeast Asia.

The Chinese government’s aim of suppressing coal and lignite imports in November and December 2018 is adversely affecting demand for Panamaxes and as a result, rates. Yet, according to Drewry, imports will be supported by winter and high-energy demand in the first quarter of 2019.

The Swedish Club informs that by 1 January 2019 there will be a supplementary IMSCB for coal. Namely, coal will not only be categorized as a chemical hazard cargo (Group B) but will also fall into Group A (liquefaction). If the particles are large enough to prevent liquefaction, then they will not be a Group A cargo.

The amendments to the IMBC Code regard the criteria under which coal cargoes are considered Group A, namely liable to liquefy, in addition to Group B chemical hazards which apply to all coal cargoes. Thus, coal cargoes may need the same TML and moisture certification.

The Murmansk Sea Trade Port managed to reduce its emissions four times. This achievement came after the Port invested 1.8 billion rubles ($27.4 mln) on the environmental safety of coal transshipment over the last two years. Investments are made in several areas: monitoring, purchasing cleaning equipment, water cannons and other sprinkler systems, creating dust shields and others.