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Issue link: https://coal.epubxp.com/i/105148
news continued Continued from pg 5... ed in the years up to 2015, China's overall energy consumption will reach 4.01 billion mt of standard coal equivalent by 2015 on condition that China's GDP maintains an average annual increase rate of 8%. China coal imports are expected to maintain growth in 2013, sustaining supply from major exporters like Indonesia and Australia. According to the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association, coal imports in the first 11 months this year reached 245 million mt, up 34.9% from a year earlier. Full year imports are forecast to hit 270 million mt. The China Coal Industry Association said the country's coal production is expected to hit 3.7 billion mt this year. Coal Alliance Settles for Less from Korean Importer According to The Australian , POSCO has agreed to buy premium hard coking coal from two mines owned jointly by BHP Billiton and Mitsubishi at $165/metric ton (mt) for delivery in the first quarter of 2013. The price represents a 3% decline on the $170/mt price settlement for the previous quarter. motion to dismiss" on January 14, 2013, he ruled. Thapar added that if the amended complaint does not resolve the discovery dispute, he would consider extending the discovery deadlines. The suit contends the companies failed to obtain a Section 404 CWA permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the 682acre Bear Fork site in Pike County and the 768-acre Hale Fork site in Floyd and Magoffin counties "despite the fact that their surface mining operations involved excavating coal seams, then placing the excavated rock and dirt, or overburden, in streams that are jurisdictional waters of the United States." According to the suit, the companies' surface mining operations have resulted in the excavation and filling of approximately 11,256 linear ft of streams at the two sites—about 7,750 linear ft at Bear Fork and 3,506 ft at Hale Fork. Streams at the two sites are "perennial streams that are tributaries of Levisa Fork," the suit says. Essar Group operates in more than 25 countries across five continents, including North America. The company employs 75,000 people and has annual earnings in excess of $27 billion. Shay Lays off Miners in Illinois CIL Plans Huge Spend on Mining Equipment Amid the slowdown in the global mining sector, Kolkata offers a lifeline to the mining equipment industry. Top officials of the world's leading mining equipment companies, such as Caterpillar, Hitachi, Komatsu and P&H;, were in Kolkata to take part in pre-bid meetings December 6-8 for Coal India's multibillion dollar equipment purchase plan. According to Business Line, CIL has decided to dilute a fraction of its $11 billion cash reserve to ramp up production by 180 million metric tons in five years. A tender for acquiring 77 190-ton haul trucks is in advanced stages of consideration. Expectation is rife that tenders may soon be floated for the purchase of 30 more 240-ton haul trucks and nearly 15 wheel dozers. Also on the cards is the purchase of 70 190-ton haul trucks, primarily for Northern Coalfields; 20 320- to 360-ton haul trucks for South Eastern Coalfields and Mahanadi Coalfields, and 150-ton haul rucks for Eastern Coalfields. Vale to Build Railroad in Malawi Malawi plans to break ground on a $1 billion new railway line to ferry both passengers and minerals through the nation, Malawi Today reported. A statement from the president's office said the line would be built by Vale SA. Vale currently has operations in Mozambique mining coal and some of that mineral will be shipped through Malawi for the local market, as well as to export abroad. Canadian Court Refuses to Block Arrival of More Chinese Workers A federal court judge has denied an application from two unions for a court order that would have prevented more Chinese workers from coming to a coal mine near Tumbler Ridge, B.C., saying the unions failed to prove "irreparable harm" would result from allowing the workers to come, The Globe and Mail reported. HD Mining International, the company at the center of the controversy over hundreds of foreign workers at a B.C. mine, called the decision a "massive victory," saying it was pleased to be able to continue work at its $300 million Murray River project. Coal of Africa Reinstates Striking Miners Coal of Africa Ltd. reached an agreement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) relating to the December 6 dismissal of 178 miners. Continued on pg 10... 8 www.coalage.com A December layoff announcement by Foresight Energy applied a mild damper on what otherwise was a year of recovery for the state's high-sulfur coal industry. Macoupin Energy plans to furlough 67 employees at the Shay No. 1 underground mine near Carlinville, more than half of Shay's 115 workers. MaRyan Mining, a Foresight affiliate that operates the continuous miner operation, told the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity the work force reductions will start February 13. The company blamed the cutback on "economic conditions" but did not elaborate. Coal industry sources, however, said Shay's higher operating costs have placed the mine at an increasing disadvantage to larger deep mines in Illinois, in particular longwall mines also owned by Foresight. Foresight operates or is developing several longwall mining operations in Illinois that, once producing at peak levels, could turn out more than 30 million tons of high-sulfur steam coal annually, essentially doubling Illinois' coal output of just a few years ago. After producing about 35 million tons in 2011, the state was expected to produce more than 45 million tons in 2012 and could be approaching the 60-million-ton mark in a couple of years. The company acquired Shay, formerly known as Monterey No. 1, from Exxon Coal USA in 2009. The mine produced 1.27 million tons in the first three quarters of 2012 and 1.8 million tons in 2011. Rosebud Mining Facility to Clean Up River in Pennsylvania A new wastewater treatment plant being built by Rosebud Mining Co. in St. Michael, Pa., is expected to eliminate a major source of acid mine drainage into the Little Conemaugh River. It's the result of the state's first mining permit requiring a company to treat discharge and improve water quality as part of its mining operation, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The coal mining company says current St. Michael discharge is responsible for as much as 44% of the total acid mine drainage load to the river. By lowering the mine pool and treating the acid January 2013