Energy, Resources & Environment

China - Xinjiang's coal output to hit 169 mln tonnes in 2012

Source: Xinhua Daily, 17 February 2012

Coal output in China's far western region Xinjiang, which holds 40 percent of the country's coal reserves, is expected to rise to 169 million tonnes in 2012, a local industry official said. Authorities estimate a rise in output as a series of coal production projects, including an open pit mine operated by China's largest coal producer Shenhua Group, are due to start operations in 2012.

Xinjiang saw coal output grow by 20.2 percent to reach 120 million tonnes in 2011. Of the region's total coal output last year, about 20 million tonnes were transported out of Xinjiang to fuel economic development in neighboring regions.

India - India, 25 others nations to oppose EU airline carbon tax

Source: The Economic Times, 23 February 2012

India, China, the US, Russia, Brazil and another 21 nations have decided to retaliate against the EU decision to collect billions of dollars every year by unilaterally imposing a carbon tax on flights landing in Eurozone.

The decision to launch an all-out trade war against EU airlines was taken at a meeting of the 26 countries in Moscow on Wednesday after the EU refused to withdraw the unilateral carbon tax on fliers from other nations. The measure would help EU pocket around $1.5 billion starting 2013 that will go up every year, thanks to the annual carbon tax at the cost of fliers from India and other countries ostensibly to combat climate change, some industry estimates have suggested.

Australia - Adani Plans Australian Expansion

Source: The Wall Street Journal, 22 February 2012

India's Adani Group plans to spend as much as $6 billion in Australia over the next three years to develop coal mines and related infrastructure and is interested in buying a majority stake in a gas company at home as the conglomerate gears up to expand operations.

In Australia, Adani will invest at the Abbot Point coal terminal where it acquired operating rights last year, with funds also going to mining activities and building a railway line connecting the terminal with its coal mines in the Galilee basin, spokesman Ameet H. Desai told a news conference.

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