The Oil Drum: Australia/New Zealand - Discussions about Energy, Transport and a Sustainable Future

The Bullroarer - Friday 30th October 2009

aeldric — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:23:55 -0400

The Australian - Clean coal strategy not viable for 20 years

CLEAN coal power stations are not viable until the carbon price reaches a minimum of $60 a tonne - a level the Australian government does not anticipate until almost 2030 - according to an audit by the Rudd government's own global carbon capture and storage institute.

Scoop.co.nz - AECT Election: The Power is With the Community

Grey Lynn 2030 is part of the international, grassroots Transition Towns movement. The goal of Transition Towns is to bring people together to explore how we – as communities - can respond to the challenges and opportunities of climate change and peak oil. Transition Towns works on the belief that communities have within themselves the innovation and ingenuity to create positive solutions to the converging crises of our time. It encourages local communities to step into leadership positions.

The Intelligent Investor - The case for oil

Peak oil theory takes Hubbert’s hypothesis and applies it to global oil production, suggesting that worldwide oil production will rapidly decline following its peak, thought to be around 2010. Geologically speaking, this makes sense. Oil fields that perform splendidly in their early stages will progressively deteriorate as they age. But economically speaking, the marginal cost of oil production trumps peak oil theory every time. And this forms the crux of our argument for higher oil prices.

The Australian - Industry lashes oil-spill firm

AUSTRALIA'S peak oil and gas body has turned on one of its own, saying established safeguards exist to prevent oil-well blowouts and the disastrous West Atlas spill in the Timor Sea should never have happened.

It comes as the company at the heart of the environmental disaster, PTTEP Australasia, announced another technical delay as it prepared a fourth attempt to plug the leak.

It has been almost 10 weeks since sweet light crude oil, gas and condensate started spewing from the drill unit off the Kimberley coast in the Timor Sea.

Or, alternately, the response has been "World Class":
WA Today - Spill response 'world class', oil company says

Operators attempting to stop the massive oil spill on the West Triton oil rig say the clean-up efforts so far have been "world class".

This is despite four failed attempts to plug the gap, more delays and criticism from Australia’s peak oil and gas body.

Bloomberg - Australia Coal Mines Can Bear Proposed Carbon Cost

Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Australia’s coal-mining industry can afford the cost of carbon reduction proposed by the government’s climate change legislation, Greg Combet, the minister assisting the minister for climate change, said today.

The cost may amount to about 80 Australian cents per metric ton of coal produced, assuming a carbon permit cost of A$25 ($23) per ton, Combet told a conference on the Gold Coast, Australia.

The Age - CEO`s Address to AGM

At this point, I would like to briefly recap on why alternative fuels. Firstly, the
worldwide concern over increasing Greenhouse Gas emissions from vehicles. Use of alternative fuels can significantly reduce CO2 emissions from cars and trucks. Secondly, Fuel availability. Whilst there is much discussion on global crude oil reserves, is there
enough crude oil to supply the worldwide market for the future? If you research this, you will find the term "Peak Oil". Based on the projections from experts in the field, it is clear that at some point crude oil availability will not be able to match the growing global
energy demand. This will cause shortages and an increase in gasoline and diesel prices here in Australia, and around the world. The cost of crude oil is on the increase again following the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

Sunshine Coast Daily - Planning boss enters lion's den

Mr Bunker laid out the council vision as written in its five-year corporate plan and sought to define “sustainability” - a much-maligned term - as the council saw it, and the policy framework set out in its statement of proposals document.

“The Sunshine Coast faces challenges - global issues of climate change and peak oil will change the way we plan for development, increasing population and visitor numbers could impact on the desirable lifestyle and character of the region, infrastructure is required to match development,” he said.

3 News NZ - Key, Rudd still undecided on Copenhagen attendance

It is just over a month until the landmark UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, where the next major step onwards from the 1997 Kyoto protocol will be decided.
It is seen by millions as a crucial crossroads for the future of the planet. But world leaders including John Key and Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, are still undecided if they will personally participate.

Stuff.co.nz - ETS changes 'too risky for economy'

Changes to New Zealand's emissions trading scheme will sabotage the economy and siphon money from badly-needed public services, a group of medical practitioners say.

The Australian - 'Four Saudi Arabias' needed for oil

THE world will have to find four Saudi Arabias by 2030 if it wants to maintain its oil dependency, the International Energy Agency says.

The reality of peak oil is fast approaching, and more must be done to develop and encourage the use of alternatives including solar and nuclear, the agency's chief economist has warned.

"My main motto never changes, the era of low oil prices is over," Dr Fatih Birol said.

Details of Solar Flagships Released

Phil Hart — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:12:39 -0400

The other objectives are:

To develop a solar industry in Australia, encourage regional development, provide research infrastructure, develop Australian intellectual property in solar power generation and develop and share technical and economic knowledge from the program.

The program is now occurring in 2 phases:

Phase one will occur in 2010, with further details to be released in 2009.
1 solar thermal and 1 PV project, with a target of up to 400MW of combined generation capability will be selected.
Must use “commercially proven solar technologies”, (that is defined as projects using technology already operational at 30MW for 12 months), or modules below 30 MW, that can be “scaled with backing from financial and construction firms for scale-up plans”.
The solar thermal project must be at located at one site.
The PV project can be at up to 5 sites with each site generating at least 30MW of electricity
The timing of the selection round will be known in 2010 with the release of the program guidelines.
Assessment of project proposals will be conducted by an independent body, the Solar Flagships Council.
The second funding round is planned to be held after the outcome of the first selection round is reviewed.
In Round 2, two projects will be funded that may be either solar thermal or PV.
Energy storage for Round 1 projects will be optional, but will be viewed favourably.
The successful solar thermal project in round 1 will be allowed to include hybrid solar generation combining gas or other types of renewable energy, adding no more than 15 percent of the project’s total electricity output.
Funding will be at the rate of “at least two dollars from private and state or territory government sources for every dollar from the Solar Flagships program”.
Funding from the Solar Flagships program will be in addition to revenues projects earn from sale of electricity and Renewable Energy Certificates.
Projects require state or territory government endorsement.
The projects will also need to include a research infrastructure component, and will be assessed by the Education Investment Fund (EIF) Advisory Board.
Therefore, successful projects will need to meet both the EIF evaluation criteria and Solar Flagships criteria.

The only online reference I can find to these new details is from Greens Senator Christine Milne, who does not seem pleased:

"Hollow men" Solar Flagships design ignores solar industry's advice

The contrast between the Rudd Government's efforts to do what polluting companies request and their utter disregard for the advice and requests of the renewable energy sector could not be starker, the Australian Greens said today.

The snippet of extra information on the design of the Solar Flagships scheme put out by Minister Ferguson today shows that the Government has completely disregarded the advice of the renewable energy industry as to how to design a scheme that will work to stimulate the base-load solar power.

A Letter To The Editor

Big Gav — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:23:37 -0400

Here's a guest post from kiashu, in the form of a "Letter to the Editor" (or in this case, a journalist at The Age) about a review of Ian Plimer's pseudo-academic novel, "Heaven and Earth".

Gidday James Kirby,

You write in today's Age,

"Heaven and Earth is absurdly long - 500 pages, 2000 footnotes - with enough factual inconsistencies and ill-advised references to some ''loopy'' thinkers to give his critics plenty of ammunition." [http://www.theage.com.au/business/going-against-the-current-climate-20091024-he2t.html]

You then express surprise that he found it difficult to get his book published. As I understand it, you are primarily a financial journalist. Let's imagine then that someone who was not qualified in economics wrote a book critiquing modern economics, and it was full of "factual inconsistencies and ill-advised references to some "loop" thinkers", do you think that person would have difficulty in getting the book published?

Would that difficulty truly be a result of the author's "radical" views, or a result of their poor writing and research?

From your article, it does not appear that you've actually read his latest book. In your Age article, you are careful to note that you are not a scientist. However, you are a journalist, and a good journalist checks facts and references. That is after all the purpose of footnotes in any work with at least pretensions to academic worth: it lets you check for yourself.

As Deltoid has noted [http://scienceblogs.com/deltoid/2008/11/silenced_plimer_somehow_appear.php], for someone who has been "silenced", Plimer appears on radio, tv and in newspapers rather a lot. You seem to be under the misapprehension that Plimer's claims have not been addressed by mainstream science. Again, a bit of research on your part - just a simple google search or two - would quickly show this not to be so.

To take just two examples, he's been refuted in Crikey [http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/05/05/plimer-wants-to-talk-science-ok-here-goes/], and on the ABC by the President of the Australian Academy of Science [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2009/2589206.htm].

Even the normally pro-denialist Australian published a review by an astronomer rubbishing Plimer's book [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25433059-5003900,00.html]. As Ashley notes in that review,

"While the text is annotated profusely with footnotes and refers to papers in the top journals, thus giving it the veneer of scholarship, it is often the case that the cited articles do not support the text."

This is why I referred to the duty of a journalist to check facts. Had you read the book and checked some references, you would have seen the same as Ashely. Plimer also claims that volcanoes emit chloroflurocarbons - yep, those CFCs restricted by the Montreal Protocol, which are entirely artificial and man-made.

A further resource, where you can find all the most popular denialist arguments refuted with scientific references (that actually say what the referrer says) is here - http://www.skepticalscience.com/argument.php Particularly relevant are "Did scientists predict global cooling in the 1970s?" Answer, no, only a few popular media articles [http://www.skepticalscience.com/ice-age-predictions-in-1970s.htm] and "Did global warming stop in 1998?" Answer, no, it didn't.

RealClimate.org is an excellent resource for discussion of climate change, and of course addresses denialist arguments. But even they get tired of saying the same thing again and again [http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/06/groundhog-day-2/].

Lastly, you mention that the CEO of Caltex doesn't believe in global warming. Even if bamboozled by Plimer's pseudoscience, I would have expected a finance journalist to pick this one up. I am sure that the CEO of Bear Sterns does not believe lack of regulation caused the subprime mortgage crisis, the CEO of EA Games does not believe violent video games cause real-world violence, and the CEO of Hustler thinks pornography is good for marriages and sex education. They may be right or wrong, but they have a financial interest in saying what they say, so we can safely ignore it, and listen to disinterested people instead.

Plimer did not have trouble publishing his book because his ideas were too radical for those conservative old fuddy-duddy eggheads. He had trouble publishing his book because it's rubbish. I suggest that in future you read the book you're defending, and do some fact-checking.

The climate change debate is not over anymore than the debate on evolution is over. But let us not misunderstand what the "debate" is: nobody really argues the basic trends, only the details. Asking why nobody listens to Plimer is like asking why astrogeologists don't listen to the guys who say the Moon landings were faked. "Don't bother studying that so-called Moon rock, it's fake, too!"

The Bullroarer - Saturday 24th October 2009

aeldric — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:21:53 -0400

Stuff.co.nz - NZ, Aust urged to join Asean green deal

Southeast Asian leaders are urging New Zealand and Australia to make deeper cuts in carbon emissions as part of a "Green New Deal" covering the region.

Brisbane Times - Piecemeal approach will kill the response to climate change

Meanwhile, the coalminers have figured in large advertisements placed by the mining lobbyist the Australian Coal Association. Its point, as expressed in those advertisements, was that the Rudd Government's carbon pollution reduction scheme would threaten jobs in the coal industry. On the North Coast of NSW it is homes; in the coalfields of Queensland and NSW it is jobs; all across the country other aspects of life are being transformed utterly by climate change. Rural Victoria is questioning the settlement and bushfire management policies that contributed to loss of life during last summer's fires. Towns in western NSW are contemplating life without water as dams lie empty with summer approaching. Many other similar processes are going on elsewhere. Climate change is the thread that runs through them all. Most aspects of modern life will be affected by it and by the national response to it. And as changes become apparent, different interest groups are emerging, each arguing their own case with little reference to the wider problem.

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ABC - A billion-dollar rail project in central and north Queensland is a step closer to becoming a reality.

The Northern Missing Link project would link the Goonyella coal rail system with the Newlands system, allowing for more coal to reach the upgraded Abbot Point terminal near Bowen.

The Australian - New hope for viable clean coal projects
Long-time readers will know that I am cynical, but it seems that there are a lot of people with good credentials who think that this will work.

AN unpublished government study has raised hopes that Australia will be able to develop commercially viable clean coal projects because prospective underground storage sites are close to power generation plants.

The Age - Joyce warns of bigger GFC
This story nicely encapsulates why I think conspiracy theories are not necessary: Responsible individuals self-censor and censor each other. They do this not because of some secret plan, but simply out of a sense of responsibility (possibly misplaced, but genuine).

THE Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce is openly canvassing an economic upheaval that would dwarf the current global financial crisis, triggered by the US defaulting on its sovereign debt within the next few years.

[.....]

In a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday night, he asked Treasury secretary Ken Henry what would be the implications of an American debt default for the Australian economy.

Dr Henry warned that canvassing extreme scenarios could alarm the community.

"I don't mind discussing hypotheticals in general … [but] one has to be careful not to discuss publicly hypotheticals that are that extreme," Dr Henry said.

NZ Herald - Engineer sees climate change as challenge

So climate change is just another challenge for an engineer. "We were running out of things to be inventive about before these issues came along."

The Auklander - Change for good works for staff
This is not strictly speaking an energy story, however I personally decided some time back that if we have tough times coming, I need to tidy up my act.

Ned Matautia quit smoking this year. He has also lost 25kg since he started exercising and has cut most of the grease from his diet.

Top News NZ - Fuel Poverty in England Continues to Rise - Department of Energy and Climate Change

Recent figures released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change show that as many as 4.6 million English households could face fuel poverty in 2009. In wake of the situation, the Government has promised that the issue will be completely under control by 2016.

ABC - Hopes of fourth time lucky at leaking oil well

Hopes are high that the fourth attempt to plug a leaking oil well in the Timor Sea will be a success.

Brisbane Times - More homes needed to boost economy: Swan

More houses are needed to help boost economic recovery and to create a lasting legacy of affordable homes, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

Speaking after meeting state and territory treasurers in Canberra on Friday, Mr Swan said Australia wasn't building enough houses in terms of population growth.

The Australian - Now climate change denial is a psychological condition
A round-up of some CC news, including psychological causes of CC denial:

THE most prominent form of denial is displayed by climate sceptics who reject all or most of the main propositions established by climate science. It seems for many such individuals acceptance of climate science and the response it calls for conflict with their fundamental beliefs, namely that it is natural for humans to exploit the Earth's resources, that economic growth should not be disrupted (and) that governments should not intervene in the marketplace.

For such sceptics the idea of human-induced global warming can give rise to cognitive dissonance, the uncomfortable feeling people have when they begin to understand that something they believe to be true is contradicted by evidence. Rejection of the scientific claims resolves the dissonance and thus removes the unpleasant feeling.

SMH - If human numbers boom, resistance will be futile

With our unprecedented and growing human population we have brought the natural environment to the brink of collapse. We search for life on other planets while we decimate complex species here. We are wealthier now than ever, but less happy and less optimistic.

Or, for the opposing view:

The Australian - Populate and prosper

KEVIN Rudd's vision for "a big Australia" is one we fully endorse. Australia stands to reap significant benefits from a substantial population increase in coming decades. We agree wholeheartedly with the Prime Minister that a population of 35 million by 2050, envisaged by Treasury projections, would be good for our national security and development.

WA Today - Fuel throttle: Tokyo motor show

Despite Mitsubishi and Nissan saying regular household powerpoints could meet most EV recharging needs, Yamanouchi says electric cars would only become popular if governments and buyers were prepared to “foot the bill” for expensive infrastructure and sophisticated technology.

National Business Review NZ - Contact Energy has OIO approval for farm purchase

Contact Energy has Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approval to purchase a farm in the Franklin district where pylons are proposed as part of the company’s planned Port Waikato windfarm.

Stuff.co.nz - Future too uncertain for earnings guidance: Contact Energy

Contact Energy is giving shareholders no guidance about earnings in the year ahead, with chairman Grant King warning that dividends will only be retained at current levels if profitability returns to "more normal levels".

The Bullroarer - Saturday 17th October 2009

aeldric — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:00:53 -0400

The Australian - Peter Beattie warms to nuclear energy

Speaking in Brisbane, Mr Beattie warned that Australia was "missing the boat" in developing the alternative energy sources that were at the centre of a research and development onslaught bankrolled in the US.

"By 2030 you are going to have a mixed bag of energy," he said. "You will have some nuclear, but you will have algae, solar, you will have geothermal and you will also have clean coal. If clean coal doesn't clean itself up, then it's going to be a smaller part of the equation."

Asked to what extent nuclear would be a part of Australia's energy future, he said he doubted it would amount to much. "There is an argument for nuclear," he said. "But I think, frankly, the new energies will leave nuclear behind.

Stuff.co.nz - Taxpayers "Susidize Big Polluters"

Big polluters would get unlimited taxpayer subsidies through changes to the emissions trading scheme (ETS), says the country's top environmental watchdog.

National Business Review NZ - Wall Street stocks hold 12-month highs as oil spikes again

A 3% spike in oil prices caused energy stocks to rise late in the session, with blue chips Chevron and ExxonMobil among the big gainers.

The Age - Brumby warned of power shortage

Victoria could face widespread power disruptions due to the closure of two of its four brown coal power stations in the next decade as Australia reduces its greenhouse gas emissions, according to high-level advice before the State Government.

The scenario, one of several possibilities outlined in confidential cabinet documents obtained by The Age, is consistent with a campaign by power generators to win more compensation under the Federal Government's emissions trading scheme.

Voxy.co.nz - Year Of Two Halves For Energy Producer

Energy producer Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd has reported an after-tax profit of $111 million (2008: $34 million) for the year ended 30 June 2009, a record but disappointing result, and below half of forecast, after the global economic downturn saw international coal demand and prices plummet in the second half of the year.

Cosmos Magazine - Why high-speed trains are vital for Australia

However, no politician has ever followed their words with action, and fast rail has remained a dream on the edge of public consciousness, commonly viewed with cynicism.

Yet that dream is again taking shape into a sensible proposal, bolstered by the pressing need to de-carbonise our economy to address climate change. As the twin challenges of climate change and peak oil loom before us, the reasons for constructing such nation-building infrastructure are now stronger than ever.

The Melbourne-to-Sydney air route is the world's fourth busiest. A high-speed train carries eight times as many passengers as an aeroplane over a given distance using the same amount of energy, largely because of the energy required to get and keep a heavy payload airborne.

NZ Herald - Genesis Energy buys time for Huntly station

The company's principal challenge remains the prospect that Huntly's 1000MW of coal-fired generation, commissioned in the early 1980s, will be called on a lot less than in the past, Brantley said.

Otago Daily Times - Thinking outside the car

Activities for the week are designed to encourage people to leave vehicles at home and walk, cycle or find other ways of getting around, Sport Waitaki active transport co-ordinator Helen Algar says.

Sky News - Another attempt to cap leaking oil well

The company that owns the damaged West Atlas rig will make a third attempt today to cap the well that's been leaking oil into the Timor Sea at the rate of around 400 barrels a day for two months.

Courier Mail - Malcolm Turnbull's leadership on line at climate change meeting

LIBERAL politicians in Canberra are running a book on how long this weekend's meeting on climate change policy will last.

ABC - Victoria's power supply 'at risk' over ETS: Opposition

The Victorian Opposition says the risk of power blackouts in the state will increase, unless the Government insists on changes to the country's emissions trading scheme (ETS).

The Australian - Coalition toes line on cost of ETS amendments

THE Coalition has promised its package of emissions trading amendments will "broadly" meet Labor's dual conditions that they achieve the same greenhouse gas reduction targets as the government's scheme and not require extra budgetary funding.

The Australian - Coles cans fuel discount offer on ACCC concerns

SUPERMARKET giant Coles is withdrawing a fuel discount promotion after the competition regulator raised concerns about the offer.

Coles Express was planning to offer fuel discounts of 40 cents a litre to customers who spent more than $300 in its supermarkets between October 16-29.

The Australian - Ford ups the ante for Toyota's eco-cars

FORD has trumped the Toyota Prius with a fuel-sipping hatchback that beats the Japanese hybrid at the bowser.

The Fiesta Econetic diesel, which uses just 3.7 litres of fuel for every 100km, will be the most economical car you can buy when it goes on sale in December for $24,990 drive away.

SMH - Coal and nuclear just hot air, the immediate answer is gas

People are looking for a cleaner energy source, one they can believe in, and enough to keep the lights on and power electric cars and desalination plants by 2050, when Australia's population will be 35 million.

And lastly: What the hell went wrong? Here is something to chat about at work, perhaps around the water cooler? OK, not unless you work in a particularly enlightened company.
Brisbane Times - Why the economy needs to stress creation over distribution

The whole of economic life is a mixture of creative and distributive activities. Some of what we ''earn'' derives from what is created out of nothing and adds to the total available for all to enjoy. But some of it merely takes what would otherwise be available to others and therefore comes at their expense.

Successful societies maximise the creative and minimise the distributive. Societies where everyone can achieve gains only at the expense of others are by definition impoverished. They are also usually intensely violent.

[.....]

A few journalists have decried the widespread condemnation of the high remuneration of bankers and hedge fund executives on the grounds that they are ''the wealth creators''. They argue we should praise, even ape, such people rather than criticise them, thereby concentrating on the distribution rather than the creation of wealth.

This misses the point. We should not be mesmerised by the millions of pounds squirrelled away. The question is, what has the process that generated this money contributed to the common weal?

Much of what goes on in financial markets belongs at the distributive end. The gains to one party reflect the losses to another, and the fees and charges racked up are paid by Joe Public, since even if he is not directly involved in the deals, he is indirectly through costs and charges for goods and services.

The Bullroarer - Saturday 10th October 2009

aeldric — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:44:07 -0400

The Age - Climate talks fail to break deadlock

The two big sticking points are the targets nations will adopt to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and how rich countries will fund poor ones to tackle climate change.

Of course, it is hard to see how we could possibly make progress at the talks if our economy depends on things like this:
ABC - Coal terminal expansion promises jobs boost

The Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDEC) says an expansion of the Abbot Point coal terminal could encourage other large industries into Bowen.

There are a few stories today about debt. We are borrowing from tomorrow to pay for yesterday's mistakes... but will tomorrow's economy support that debt?
Radio NZ - Emissions scheme revision will increase debt - Treasury

Treasury officials estimate a key change to the emissions trading scheme will greatly increase Government debt by 2050.

The Australian - Business warms to Turnbull on ETS

MALCOLM Turnbull is likely to get business backing for his emissions trading amendments, which the Coalition is drafting in close consultation with industry groups and major companies.

National Business Review NZ - Oil production goes ahead in deep Manaia Field well

Oil will be commercially drilled in the Manaia Field offshore Taranaki, after a successful appraisal that drilled about eight kilometres – the longest well ever drilled in New Zealand.

Bloomberg - Shell to Use World’s Biggest Ship at Australian Field

Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Royal Dutch Shell Plc plans to deploy a vessel “much larger than an aircraft carrier” off the coast of northwestern Australia to house the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas plant.

NZ Herald - The future of Discovery

The diversification helped Land Rover weather the recession better than some. In particular, the BRIC markets - Brazil, Russia, India and China - have been fairly kind to the company. "China is on fire again and is the one market where we'll grow year-on-year," enthuses Popham, who has worked in South Africa, US and Britain. On the other hand, he says Russia went into recession quite late, "but the effect of liquidity and the oil price drop caused the industry there to nosedive 50 to 70 per cent in the last few months." Those fires will ignite to make China Land Rover's third biggest market this year, after Western Europe including Britain, and the US. Italy and Russia vie for number four and five.

NZ Herald - Doctors attack climate change stance

The Government's climate change policy has come under attack from a long list of doctors, including several senior civil servants.

Twenty-six doctors, mainly public health practitioners, have put their name to the article in today's New Zealand Medical Journal, which says the country "must rapidly halve its greenhouse gas emissions".

A further 69 doctors are listed in support of the article. They include the Ministry of Health's chief clinical adviser, Dr Sandy Dawson, its chief adviser on population health, Dr Greg Simmons, and Dr Martin Tobias, a leading public health researcher based in the ministry.

Bloomberg - Queensland Gas Projects Face Labor Risks, Fitch Says

A labor shortage is set to push up costs and drive consolidation among proposed coal-seam gas ventures in Australia’s Queensland state, a Fitch Ratings analyst said.

Stuff.co.nz - US-NZ relations grow warmer

She praised New Zealand's leadership role in climate change and told Mr McCully the US also appreciated New Zealand's efforts to combat nuclear proliferation. Asked about New Zealand's role in defence, security, the Pacific and East Asia, Mrs Clinton said the US valued New Zealand's partnership and leadership in those areas.

Top News - Twelve month extension sought by 2ExxonMobil, Todd Energy

ExxonMobil spokeswoman Rebecca Arnold told that now the companies must decide on drilling by Oct. 10, 2010.

The PEP 50117 permit which was awarded in July 2007 is situated in the Great South Basin, 100 km offshore, in which ExxonMobil is the operator with a 90% stake while Todd Energy owns the rest.

The Australian - Boomers pound the coast

HERE is a feature that will surely become more prevalent in sea change locations in the coming decade. It is the notion that there is sufficient space in this idyllic community for me but not for anyone to arrive after me.

The Australian - Origin Energy downgraded

ORIGIN Energy has been downgraded to a "hold" recommendation after its joint venture partner announced assets sales to reduce debt.

Origin is a joint venture partner with ConocoPhillips in Australia Pacific LNG, which plans to develop a coal seam gas liquefied natural gas project.

The US oil giant announced this week it was planning to sell $US10bn worth of assets to pay down debt.

Goldman Sachs said it did not believe Conoco would sell its stake in APLNG but that its asset sale move would create uncertainty with respect to Conoco’s commitment to APLNG and/or its ability to fund its share of the project.

NZ Herald - Maari partners drill to large second zone

Partners in the Maari oil field say they have found a substantial second zone of oil and successfully drilled a horizontal production well through the reservoir containing an estimated 30 million to 40 million barrels of oil-in-place.

Radio Australia - UN climate talks end without agreement

It's a severe disappointment for the UN, barely two weeks after its secretary-general Ban Ki Moon told the General Assembly that climate change poses the greatest single threat to the human race.

The Australian - Political cowardice on carbon

THE debate over whether Australia should or shouldn't pass the government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme ahead of the Copenhagen conference in December is a red herring when it comes to climate change.

Why? Because whether we do or don't will make little difference to Australia's capacity to reduce carbon pollution so long as both main parties aren't prepared to get serious and have a mature debate about nuclear power.

NZ Herald - Greenback tumbles on reports of its demise

The US government's $11.86 trillion debt would be easier to repay if the value of the dollar was lower. There is growing concern among economists that the Obama administration could be content to see the currency fall. That would make US exports more competitive and could spark a manufacturing jobs revival.

Overseas governments are in a bind because they hold trillions of dollars as currency reserves. The situation is particularly sensitive for oil-producing nations, who are paid in dollars for their exports and therefore hold particularly high dollar reserves.

The Bullroarer - Friday 2nd October 2009

aeldric — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:10:41 -0400

National Business Review NZ - NZ's addiction to oil here to stay

New Zealand is likely to remain "addicted to oil," presenting a key challenge for reducing energy sector emissions, according to a Ministry of Economic Development report.

The latest New Zealand Energy Outlook (2009) is designed as a reference for the country’s energy policy debate. Published every few years, it makes 25-year projections of the country’s energy supply, demand, prices and emissions.

The Australian - Climate rebels reject Turnbull warning

ANGRY Coalition MPs have accused Malcolm Turnbull of threatening the partyroom after he staked his leadership today on climate change negotiations with Labor.

Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce told The Australian Online today the bottom line was that Mr Turnbull “is not the leader of my party”.

And rebel Liberal MP Mr Tuckey has fired back on calls he fall into line, warning Mr Turnbull that the last leader who staked his leadership on climate change, Brendan Nelson, ended up losing it.

The Australian - WA, NT offshore oil exploration permits awarded

PERMITS to explore in 10 new offshore oil exploration blocks in waters off Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with total planned investment of $158 million, were awarded on Friday by Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson.

The Australian - Waste-to-fuel venture struggles for finance

AN Australian entrepreneur behind a $1 billion venture turning waste plastics into diesel says the export deal may collapse because the Rudd government won't provide financial assistance.

Ray Peck's company, Ozmotech, has agreements signed to build more than 90 plants in Europe and the US to produce synthetic diesel.

But he said the venture needed $10million within three weeks to clinch the deal after it lost an equivalent capital injection from an investor hit by the Lehman Brothers collapse.

NZ Herald - Brian Rudman: We're all grown-up, so let's get rail right

Each time Transport Minister Stephen Joyce produces another excuse for stalling the electrification of Auckland commuter rail, it makes me want to scream at the previous Labour administration for dragging its feet for so long.

NZ Herald - Gary Taylor: NZ is now climate change laggard

When the Greenhouse Policy Coalition sends out a press statement headed "Emissions Trading Scheme Changes Welcome" you know the Government has gone too far. GPC consists of the big polluters in New Zealand and is backed by state-owned Solid Energy. An emissions-trading scheme welcomed by polluters and coal producers is not going to work. An effective ETS should cause them to change their business model but instead it's full steam ahead with pollution as usual.

Scoop.co.nz - State Coal to Mine New State Subsidies

The state owned coal miner, Solid Energy, would be entitled to a subsidy on the cost of emissions from its proposed lignite to urea plant worth tens of millions of dollars a year.

Planned changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) expand the subsidy regime to now include emissions from new carbon intensive operations. The ETS would no longer protect just existing smokestack industries - it would also underwrite major new polluters.

Otago Daily Times - Why parties are at odds over ETS

A lot of hot air has been expended over the relative merits of the Government's amended Emissions Trading Scheme and the Labour model it has supplanted. Brian Fallow of The New Zealand Herald attempts to clarify the issues.

The Age - How to make money out of thin air: sell a wind farm

AGL ENERGY will make $88 million in development fees from the sale of one of its wind farms, in a sign the market for renewable energy assets remains robust.

Brisbane Times - Flying kangaroo to limping wallaby?

There's one unexpected piece of good news he might be rather cheered by.

US scientific body ASTM has certified a new form of jet fuel that is 50 per cent synthetic, a fuel that might use anything from biomass to coal.

A fuel that might help offset the massive costs of hedging jet fuel.

ABC - Climate change threatens food supplies

The head of Australia's national science organisation says climate change poses extraordinary challenges to global food production in the future.

The Australian - Food needs over next 50 years greater than all of human history, says CSIRO

ONE of mankind's greatest challenges over the next 50 years is how to feed everyone, as a study warns we'll eat more food in the next five decades than in all of human history.

In an explosive summary, CSIRO boss Megan Clark said that challenge, which went hand-in-hand with climate change, demanded a critical application of science, and Australian research in particular.

ABC - Coal giant wants time to adjust to emissions trading

The chief executive of Anglo coal says the Federal Government's proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme should be phased in, to allow the industry to adjust.

SMH - NZ company invests in Guatemala, Canada

A New Zealand-based energy research and investment company, World Energy Research, says it is moving into energy exploration in Guatemala and has invested in a tidal turbine in Canada.

Norman Borlaug: Saint Or Sinner ?

Big Gav — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:14:36 -0400

The father of the "green revolution" in agriculture, Norman Borlaug, recently passed away due to cancer, at the age of 95.

Borlaug didn't approve of the "green revolution" moniker, dubbing it "a miserable term" (what he would have made of "The Agrichemical Revolutionary" isn't clear) but his work has had a far-reaching impact on the course of human development.

Borlaug received both praise ("More than any other single person of this age, he has helped provide bread for a hungry world. We have made this choice in the hope that providing bread will also give the world peace", said the Nobel peace prize committee, while the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization declared him “A towering scientist” and a “great benefactor of humankind”) from those impressed by the rise in agricultural productivity he engineered, and condemnation ("Aside from Kissinger, probably the biggest killer of all to have got the peace prize was Norman Borlaug, whose "green revolution" wheat strains led to the death of peasants by the million" is a typical example from Alexander Cockburn at Counterpunch) from those concerned by the impact of the introduction of industrial agriculture around the globe.

Borlaug's Life

Borlaug grew up on a farm in Iowa and then studied for a Ph.D. in plant pathology and genetics at the University of Minnesota. In 1944, Borlaug took up an agricultural research position in Mexico as part of the Rockefeller Foundation project to help farmers modernise crop production, where he developed semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties over a period of 16 years. The Foundation's interest may not have been entirely altruistic - the Mexican government had nationalised the country's oil supply in 1939, to the dismay of the family's "Standard Oil" company, and there were concerns that the country may align itself with Germany during the war.

Borlaug's wheat breeding program produced semi-dwarf strains as the shorter stems enabled the plant to grow larger heads of grain without collapsing - with the extra growth prompted by the application of nitrogen fertiliser. The strains developed by Borlaug were very successful - by 1963, 95% of Mexico's wheat crops were products of the program. That year, the country's wheat harvest was 6 times larger than in 1944, the year Borlaug arrived - Mexico had become self-sufficient in wheat production.

In the 1960's, Borlaug shifted to India, working on similar projects there to alleviate famine. While the situation in India and Pakistan at the time was bleak (Biologist and "Population Bomb" author Paul Ehrlich remarking "I have yet to meet anyone familiar with the situation who thinks India will be self-sufficient in food by 1971" and "India couldn't possibly feed two hundred million more people by 1980"), Borlaug's programs were successful - in Pakistan, wheat yields nearly doubled, from 4.6 million tons in 1965 to 7.3 million tons in 1970. In India, yields increased from 12.3 million tons in 1965 to 20.1 million tons in 1970 - by 1974, India was self-sufficient in cereal production.

Borlaug did not appear to be interested in politics - he believed that the problems of hunger and poverty could be solved by increasing crop yields, and set out to do so by applying technology to plant science. He often advocated increasing crop yields as a way of curbing deforestation - a methodology that came to be known as the "Borlaug hypothesis" (increasing the productivity of agriculture on existing farmland can help control deforestation by reducing the demand for new farmland).

Borlaug was worried about the limited availability of farmland to expand food production further to meet increasing global demand - "we will have to double the world food supply by 2050" he noted. With around 85% of future growth in food production having to come from land already in use, he recommended a multidisciplinary research approach - mainly through increasing crop immunity to large-scale diseases such as the rust fungus.

While Borlaug became ever more optimistic about further increasing crop yields, he did occasionally sound Malthusian style warnings about population growth, particularly in the 1970's - "future food-production increases will have to come from higher yields. And though I have no doubt yields will keep going up, whether they can go up enough to feed the population monster is another matter. Unless progress with agricultural yields remains very strong, the next century will experience sheer human misery that, on a numerical scale, will exceed the worst of everything that has come before".

Over time Borlaug became convinced that we could feed the world adequately (given projections that global population will eventually plateau at around 9.5 billion people), as long as the methods he recommended were adopted universally, stating in 2000 : "I now say that the world has the technology — either available or well advanced in the research pipeline — to feed on a sustainable basis a population of 10 billion people. The more pertinent question today is whether farmers and ranchers will be permitted to use this new technology ? While the affluent nations can certainly afford to adopt ultra low-risk positions, and pay more for food produced by the so-called 'organic' methods, the one billion chronically undernourished people of the low income, food-deficit nations cannot."

Borlaug's work earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 and (amongst numerous other awards) the 1977 US Presidential Medal of Freedom and the US Congressional Gold Medal in 2006.

Criticisms of the Green Revolution

Borlaug's "green revolution" has been criticised for decades by a wide variety of different groups for all sorts of reasons - ranging from making farmers dependent on a range of industrial products to soil and aquifer depletion to creating a food production system that is dependent on a finite supply of fossil fuel based inputs. One memorable description of this combined school of thought came from Zaid Hassan, who noted "there are so many criticisms around the current global food system that for a while I started wondering if in fact it had already collapsed and I was studying a post-apocalyptic food system".

Input-intensive monoculture farming - The primary criticism of "green revolution" style industrial agriculture is that it results in farmers becoming dependent on a range of industrial inputs - farming machinery, fertiliser, pesticides, irrigation equipment, seeds and even capital (debt) to purchase these inputs - often resulting in small scale farmers being pushed off the land (particularly if they are unable to repay their debts during a bad season) and resulting in large scale agribusinesses that produce monoculture crops that are prone to pests and diseases unless large amounts of pesicide are applied. Critics from the developing world often note that the profits from this transformation seem to be reaped by multinational corporations like Monsanto, Dupont, Cargill and Archers Daniels Midland rather than the farmers growing the crops (who often saw crop prices fall as yields increased) - and that their national food security was now dependent on foreign suppliers.

Side effects of fertilisers and pesticides - The side effects of large scale fertiliser and pesticide use are also pointed to by Borlaug's critics, noting increased rates of cancer and other health problems in rural areas and damage to the ecosystems that these inputs drain into (for example, the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico).

Water and soil depletion - As a result of modern irrigation practices, aquifers in places like India (once Borlaug's greatest triumph) and the US midwest have become depleted. Soil depletion is also a problem - since the 1880s almost half of the topsoil of the Great Plains of North America has disappeared.

Genetically modified crops - The risks associated with genetically modified crops - the next frontier for increasing crop yields in the wake of the first green revolution, which Borlaug dubbed "The Gene Revolution" - remain hotly debated, with critics raising objections based on food safety issues, ecological concerns and economic concerns (centering on the application of patents and intellectual property rights to engineered seeds).

Fossil fuel dependence - The inputs for green revolution style industrial agriculture are almost entirely derived from fossil fuels. Production of nitrogen fertiliser via the Haber process (mostly in the form of anhydrous ammonia, ammonium nitrate, and urea) consumes between 3 and 5% of world natural gas production. Farm machinery like tractors and irrigation pumps consume fuel, and tractor tyres and plastic irrigation pipes are made from petrochemicals, as are pesticides. Writers like Richard Manning (The Oil We Eat), Dale Allen Pfeiffer (Eating Fossil Fuels) and Glenn Morton (The Connection Between Food Supply and Energy: What Is the Role of Oil Price?) have argued that the green revolution will prove unsustainable once we have passed their peak production point for fossil fuels.

Borlaug dismissed the claims of most critics. Of environmental lobbyists he said, "some of the environmental lobbyists of the Western nations are the salt of the earth, but many of them are elitists. They've never experienced the physical sensation of hunger. They do their lobbying from comfortable office suites in Washington or Brussels. If they lived just one month amid the misery of the developing world, as I have for fifty years, they'd be crying out for tractors and fertilizer and irrigation canals and be outraged that fashionable elitists back home were trying to deny them these things".

Borlaug was also indignant about arguments in favour of natural fertilisers like cow manure rather than inorganic fertilisers. Using manure would require a massive expansion of the lands required for grazing the cattle, he said, and consume much of the extra grain that would be produced. He claimed that such techniques could support no more than 4 billion people worldwide, well under the current global population of almost 7 billion.

This point is still being debated, with researchers at the University of Michigan and University of California claiming that organic farming techniques can indeed feed the world. We can also increase food production by making better use of urban land (something "guerilla gardeners" are fond of - and similar ideas are being put into practice by large scale tree planting programs in India).

Even if we don't fully take the organic agriculture path, some of the objections based on fossil fuel depletion would seem to be solvable. If we shift completely to renewable energy sources for power production, we can eliminate a large proportion of our natural gas and coal usage, freeing the remaining reserves for agricultural applications and extending the lifespan of green revolution techniques far out into the future. Whether or not we choose to do so quickly enough remains to be seen.

Peak Energy - The Fat Man, The Population Bomb And The Green Revolution

Grist - Thoughts on the legacy of Norman Borlaug

Wall Street Journal - Borlaug's Revolution

Reason - Billions Served

Worldchanging - Postcards from the Global Food System (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

Cross-posted from Peak Energy.

Maribyrnong City Council Peak Oil Contingency Plan

Phil Hart — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:27:57 -0400

As one of a team of three at The Institute for Sensible Transport working on this project, I'm very pleased to be able to announce Australia's first Peak Oil Contingency Plan, developed by Maribyrnong City Council in inner west Melbourne.

This follows on from Maribyrnong's first steps in developing a Peak Oil Policy and Action Plan which we talked about in early 2008 here at The Oil Drum.

Here is the Media Release about the Peak Oil Contingency Plan from Maribyrnong City Council:

Maribyrnong City Council’s Peak Oil Contingency Plan first for Australia

Making history as the first-ever local government organisation to strategically address the impacts of rising oil prices, Maribyrnong City Council has completed their Peak Oil Contingency Plan.

The newly completed Peak Oil Contingency Plan spells out the threats and shifts required by Council to achieve the same level of community service provision in times of reduced oil availability and subsequent escalated prices.

In April 2008, Council endorsed the Peak Oil Policy and Action Plan following engagement with the Maribyrnong community. The Peak Oil Contingency Plan, one of the recommendations listed in Council’s Peak Oil Action Plan, was undertaken by Council’s consultants, Institute for Sensible Transport.

“As the level of government closest to the community, it’s local Councils that residents will turn to in times of peak oil crisis when petrol prices will become unaffordable and food prices will skyrocket,” said the Mayor of the City of Maribyrnong, Cr Michael Clarke.

“And it’s the very core community services provided by Councils that will be potentially affected by a reduction of oil availability, yet it’s these same services that cannot be compromised. This includes things like rubbish collection, home meal deliveries and other aged care, maternal and child health services and our road maintenance programs.”

“The Peak Oil Contingency Plan illustrates the ways we can maintain these services and survive significant threats, with as little impact on our community as possible when times of limited oil supply hit global and local economies.”

“In coordinating our responses to peak oil threats, Council will introduce a greater level of resilience into our operations, as well as assist in creating a more resilient, prepared community,” said Cr Clarke.

The Peak Oil Contingency Plan has made a number of recommendations, which will be worked into the annual Peak Oil Action Plan.

“We have been on the front foot the last few years in addressing environmental issues, with our carbon neutral commitment. Some of the Contingency Plan actions have already been implemented, while others will require greater planning and resources. Nevertheless, we are steadily implementing key steps to prepare Council for a reduction in global oil supply,” said Cr Clarke.

Recommendations in the Plan to boost resilience to oil depletion included:

Introduce car pooling software, boost work from home options and encourage sustainable transport use and video conferencing facilities
Create opportunities for urban food production
Boost the proportion of Council budget dedicated to sustainable transport
Advocate to State and Federal Governments for improved public transport
Reduce demand for oil consumption across Council service areas.”

Cr Clarke said Council is continuing to embark on an exciting, challenging journey to tackle Peak Oil and has undertaken considerable work so far to ensure Council’s core services are delivered in an environmentally sustainable way.

“We have incorporated our Peak Oil work into existing Council processes such as our Risk Management Framework, Council Policies and our Business Continuity models. From here, there is plenty more to be done – and now that we are equipped with out Peak Oil Contingency Plan, we are ready for the challenge,” said Cr Clarke.

Here is what Elliot Fishman at the Institute for Sensible Transport had to say:

Our team worked closely with council staff to assess council’s operations and vulnerability to oil supply constraints. This process led to the identification of ten service areas considered most vulnerable to either a short or long term reduction in available fuel supplies.

We facilitated a workshop in which council staff nominated the key threats to their business area posed by a reduction in fuel availability and what response measures they could implement to mitigate against these threats.

Using a risk management approach, we were able to develop risk profiles for each of the ten service areas and prioritise the recommendations made by council staff. This analysis enabled our team to provide practical recommendations to assist council to meet its fuel use reduction targets and increase Maribyrnong’s resilience to future threats posed by fuel supply disruptions.

Project deliverables:

Analysis of local demographics and transport patterns
Analysis of council’s operations, services and oil consumption
Identification of ten critical service areas most vulnerable to oil supply disruptions
Facilitated workshop with over 35 council staff
Risk analysis of service areas against a short and long term reduction in oil supply
Critical analysis and prioritization of response measures to oil depletion
Recommendations to increase council and community resilience to future oil supply disruptions.

The full report is available from the Institute for Sensible Transport website here (2.8MB PDF).

Maribyrnong is one of several local Government organisations in Australia starting to move on peak oil, so we hope to see more peak oil policies and action and contingency plans soon. Thanks to my colleagues Elliot and Joe, and Grace and Gavin and the rest of the team at Maribyrnong for what was a very interesting and enjoyable project to be involved with.

Maybe the next level of Government will step up to the challenge soon?

The Bullroarer - Saturday 26th September 2009

aeldric — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:56:18 -0400

The Australian - PM yearns to lead world on climate

This is the real conflict at the heart of the debate over emissions trading in Australia: it's not about detail - even the Government knows it must amend the scheme and must compromise with the Liberals to get its bill through the Senate - it's about whether we lead the world.

NBR NZ - $1.4b lignite to Urea plant investigated for Southland
You don't need oil or gas to make fertilizer - coal is substituted in this case.

State owned coal producer Solid Energy and fertiliser company Ravensdown are investigating the building of a lignite-to-urea plant in eastern Southland.

The plant would cost more than $US1 billion ($NZ1.41b), using the region's world-scale lignite resource and making this country self sufficient in urea, and potentially an exporter, the two companies said in a statement.

Brisbane Times - Rudd issues students climate challenge

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has issued a challenge to university students to devote their talents to solving climate change.

Mr Rudd says the world needs policy innovation to develop the technology to reduce carbon emissions as well as the expertise to design a climate change agreement and to work out funding solutions.

Star News Group - Peak oil bid slump

Cr Dunn said the issue had recently been raised at a Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) conference, alerting local government to the trends in peak oil and the issues of declining supplies across the world.

She said at worst oil supplies would start to diminish by 2013 and at best 2020. “I see this as a really critical issue for council considering we use oil in a range a ways in the shire… whether it’s meals on wheels or repairing roads there is a whole lot of different ways it will impact on us,” Cr Dunn said.

But councillors Richard Higgins, Graham Warren and Chris Templer disagreed, saying it wasn’t council’s responsibility to plan for such contingencies.

Stock And Land - Our future: a biomass-powered economy

Within 40 years, given an early commitment, 90 per cent of Australia’s transport fuel and 20 per cent of its electricity generation could come from bio-methanol or ethanol produced from wood, according to the report, “Powerful Choices”.

Gisborne Times - What climate change?

A local government leaders’ position statement on climate change will not include the signature of Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon after both the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce and a majority of councillors spoke strongly against it.

Radio NZ - Fonterra signs international climate agreement

Fonterra is among dairy organisations from around the world to sign a commitment to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from dairying.

ABC - WA oil and gas industry recovering from downturn

Western Australia's petroleum industry has been quick to recover from the global downturn, with record spending in the June quarter.

Scoop.co.nz - Guilt-free coal and gas within reach?

This week, Science magazine features a round-up of leading approaches to carbon capture and storage (CCS), a technology being developed to reduce carbon emissions.

The Australian - Anglo American to double coal output

PREDICTING recent Chinese coking coal import demand is here to stay, Anglo American wants to double its global coking coal production by boosting output from its Queensland mines.

ABC - WA 'ill prepared to handle big oil spill'

The Australian Conservation Foundation has warned Western Australia is ill prepared to cope with oil leaks the size of the current Montara spill off the state's north-west coast.

The foundation is demanding a moratorium on oil and gas development in WA until the state is better equipped to deal with spills.

The Australian - Coalminers recruit Kevin 07 guru Neil Lawrence to shaft ETS

THE creator of the "Kevin 07" advertising campaign, Neil Lawrence, has been recruited by coalmining companies to design a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign against the Rudd government's emissions trading scheme, to be launched next week in key marginal seats.

ABC - El Nino-Modoki pattern to change weather again

A climate change expert says a predicted shift in El Nino ocean warming patterns will make northern Australian monsoons more intense.

ABC - Hope for genetics to curb burping sheep

World-first research is underway in Queensland looking at whether genetics can help create sheep that emit lower amounts of greenhouse gas.

The Australian - Northern Energy in coal drive

COAL junior Northern Energy says it thinks it can get a 500,000 tonne-a-year coking coal mine up and running at Maryborough in under two years as a prelude to its bigger Elimatta thermal coal project south of Emerald.

Lloyd's List - Freightliner to enter Hunter coal haulage market

UK rail operator Freightliner, long mooted as a third Hunter coal haulage competitor, plans to enter the market by 2011.

The Australian - More compo tipped for coal-fired generators

THE Rudd government is likely to boost compensation to coal-fired generators under its emissions trading regime to avoid energy market disruptions, after receiving high-level advice that its proposed $3.5 billion compensation fund may not be sufficient.

The Guardian (Australia) - The battle over coal continues

Last week, 22 climate change protestors invaded the Hazelwood power plant in Victoria, which is said to produce Australia’s worst greenhouse gas power station emissions.