Kochi: The Technology Mission on Coconut (TMOC) has cleared 14 projects at an outlay of Rs 19.25 crore and a subsidy of Rs 2.86 crore.
A decision in this regard was taken at the 41 {+s} {+t} meeting of the Project Approval Committee (PAC) on TMOC under the chairmanship of T.K. Jose, Chairman, Coconut Development Board.
Under the project component “Processing and Product Diversification”, proposals from 10 coconut processing units have been cleared. This includes setting up of five desiccated coconut powder manufacturing units, two tender coconut water units, one coconut shell charcoal unit, one coconut shell powder unit and one ball copra unit.
Three research projects are also among the approved projects. One unit has been approved for market promotional activities of coconut kernel products on reimbursement basis.
In Kerala, one unit has been given permission for producing desiccated coconut powder with a capacity to process 15,000 nuts a day.
In Karnataka, four units of desiccated coconut powder with a capacity to process 2,40,000 nuts a day and one TCW processing unit with a capacity to process 30,000 tender coconut a day have been approved.
In Tamil Nadu, one unit has been cleared for packing tender coconut water with a capacity to process 60,000 packets a day. Another unit has been allowed to produce coconut shell powder with a capacity to process 6.6 tonnes /day , while one coconut shell charcoal unit has been cleared with a capacity to process 3.24 tonnes/day.
In Andhra Pradesh, the panel sanctioned one ball copra unit with a capacity to process 60,0000 nuts/year
Success in my Habit
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
14 projects cleared under coconut technology mission
Kochi: The Technology Mission on Coconut (TMOC) has cleared 14 projects at an outlay of Rs 19.25 crore and a subsidy of Rs 2.86 crore.
A decision in this regard was taken at the 41 {+s} {+t} meeting of the Project Approval Committee (PAC) on TMOC under the chairmanship of T.K. Jose, Chairman, Coconut Development Board.
Under the project component “Processing and Product Diversification”, proposals from 10 coconut processing units have been cleared. This includes setting up of five desiccated coconut powder manufacturing units, two tender coconut water units, one coconut shell charcoal unit, one coconut shell powder unit and one ball copra unit.
Three research projects are also among the approved projects. One unit has been approved for market promotional activities of coconut kernel products on reimbursement basis.
In Kerala, one unit has been given permission for producing desiccated coconut powder with a capacity to process 15,000 nuts a day.
In Karnataka, four units of desiccated coconut powder with a capacity to process 2,40,000 nuts a day and one TCW processing unit with a capacity to process 30,000 tender coconut a day have been approved.
In Tamil Nadu, one unit has been cleared for packing tender coconut water with a capacity to process 60,000 packets a day. Another unit has been allowed to produce coconut shell powder with a capacity to process 6.6 tonnes /day , while one coconut shell charcoal unit has been cleared with a capacity to process 3.24 tonnes/day.
In Andhra Pradesh, the panel sanctioned one ball copra unit with a capacity to process 60,0000 nuts/year
A decision in this regard was taken at the 41 {+s} {+t} meeting of the Project Approval Committee (PAC) on TMOC under the chairmanship of T.K. Jose, Chairman, Coconut Development Board.
Under the project component “Processing and Product Diversification”, proposals from 10 coconut processing units have been cleared. This includes setting up of five desiccated coconut powder manufacturing units, two tender coconut water units, one coconut shell charcoal unit, one coconut shell powder unit and one ball copra unit.
Three research projects are also among the approved projects. One unit has been approved for market promotional activities of coconut kernel products on reimbursement basis.
In Kerala, one unit has been given permission for producing desiccated coconut powder with a capacity to process 15,000 nuts a day.
In Karnataka, four units of desiccated coconut powder with a capacity to process 2,40,000 nuts a day and one TCW processing unit with a capacity to process 30,000 tender coconut a day have been approved.
In Tamil Nadu, one unit has been cleared for packing tender coconut water with a capacity to process 60,000 packets a day. Another unit has been allowed to produce coconut shell powder with a capacity to process 6.6 tonnes /day , while one coconut shell charcoal unit has been cleared with a capacity to process 3.24 tonnes/day.
In Andhra Pradesh, the panel sanctioned one ball copra unit with a capacity to process 60,0000 nuts/year
ONGC’s foreign arm to acquire 12% stake in Brazil block
Mumbai: ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), the foreign exploration arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), has signed definitive agreements to acquire an additional 12 per cent participating interest in block BC-10 in Brazil. This would increase OVL’s share in the acreage to 27 per cent.
In 2006, OVL had acquired 15 per cent interest in the offshore block in the Campos Basin of Brazil.
The deal is part of the sale of 35 per cent share made by Petrobras which, this August, entered into a deal with Sinochem to sell its 35 per cent interest in the block for $1.543 billion.
The other partners in the block include Shell, which is the operator with 50 per cent stake.
In a press statement, OVL said the acquisition of additional share in the block is subject to approval by the Brazilian anti-trust and regulatory authorities and the agreement was subject to pre-emption rights of the partners Shell and OVL. On September 17, the two companies served a notice to jointly acquire 35 per cent, in which 12 per cent interest corresponds to OVL.
On October 11, in a follow-up to the pre-emption notice, OVL signed sale and purchase agreements with Petrobras for a 12 per cent interest which is likely to cost $529.03 million.
The Block BC-10, also known as Parque das Conchas, includes four offshore deep-water fields — Ostra, Abalone, Argonauta and Nautilus — and a few identified exploration prospects. The block is in the deep-waters of Brazil in the water depths ranging from 1,500 to 1,950 meters and 120 km from Vitoria town on the shore. The licence for the fields expires in December 2032.
In a separate development, OVL has been awarded two onshore blocks, namely B2 (Zebyutaung-Nandaw) and EP-3 (Thegon-Shwegu) in the Myanmar Onshore Bidding Round 2013. Block B-2, having an area of 16,995 sq km, is located in northern Myanmar, bordering Manipur, and the 1,650-sq km Block EP-3 is located in central Myanmar.
OVL has a decade-old presence in the exploration and production sector of Myanmar, with 17 per cent non-operating stakes in the fields Shwe & Shwe Phyu (Block –A1) and Mya North & Mya South (Block A3), with a total investment of $565 million as on September 30. Myanmar is one of the focus countries for OVL.
In 2006, OVL had acquired 15 per cent interest in the offshore block in the Campos Basin of Brazil.
The deal is part of the sale of 35 per cent share made by Petrobras which, this August, entered into a deal with Sinochem to sell its 35 per cent interest in the block for $1.543 billion.
The other partners in the block include Shell, which is the operator with 50 per cent stake.
In a press statement, OVL said the acquisition of additional share in the block is subject to approval by the Brazilian anti-trust and regulatory authorities and the agreement was subject to pre-emption rights of the partners Shell and OVL. On September 17, the two companies served a notice to jointly acquire 35 per cent, in which 12 per cent interest corresponds to OVL.
On October 11, in a follow-up to the pre-emption notice, OVL signed sale and purchase agreements with Petrobras for a 12 per cent interest which is likely to cost $529.03 million.
The Block BC-10, also known as Parque das Conchas, includes four offshore deep-water fields — Ostra, Abalone, Argonauta and Nautilus — and a few identified exploration prospects. The block is in the deep-waters of Brazil in the water depths ranging from 1,500 to 1,950 meters and 120 km from Vitoria town on the shore. The licence for the fields expires in December 2032.
In a separate development, OVL has been awarded two onshore blocks, namely B2 (Zebyutaung-Nandaw) and EP-3 (Thegon-Shwegu) in the Myanmar Onshore Bidding Round 2013. Block B-2, having an area of 16,995 sq km, is located in northern Myanmar, bordering Manipur, and the 1,650-sq km Block EP-3 is located in central Myanmar.
OVL has a decade-old presence in the exploration and production sector of Myanmar, with 17 per cent non-operating stakes in the fields Shwe & Shwe Phyu (Block –A1) and Mya North & Mya South (Block A3), with a total investment of $565 million as on September 30. Myanmar is one of the focus countries for OVL.
IIM-A moves up The Economist B-school ranking list
Ahmedabad: The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad on Monday said it was ranked 39th globally in The Economist full-time MBA Programmes Ranking 2013.
It has moved up from the 56th position last year in the top 100-B Schools’ list globally, a press statement here said.
IIM-A is the only Indian B-school to figure in the top 100 list for the last four years.
The Institute has made it to the fourth position in the Asia and Australasia 2013 rankings.
It is also ranked No 1 on criteria such as student quality, opening new career opportunities, percentage increase on pre-MBA salary, and percentage of students in work three months after graduation.
It has moved up from the 56th position last year in the top 100-B Schools’ list globally, a press statement here said.
IIM-A is the only Indian B-school to figure in the top 100 list for the last four years.
The Institute has made it to the fourth position in the Asia and Australasia 2013 rankings.
It is also ranked No 1 on criteria such as student quality, opening new career opportunities, percentage increase on pre-MBA salary, and percentage of students in work three months after graduation.
IIM-A moves up The Economist B-school ranking list
Ahmedabad: The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad on Monday said it was ranked 39th globally in The Economist full-time MBA Programmes Ranking 2013.
It has moved up from the 56th position last year in the top 100-B Schools’ list globally, a press statement here said.
IIM-A is the only Indian B-school to figure in the top 100 list for the last four years.
The Institute has made it to the fourth position in the Asia and Australasia 2013 rankings.
It is also ranked No 1 on criteria such as student quality, opening new career opportunities, percentage increase on pre-MBA salary, and percentage of students in work three months after graduation.
It has moved up from the 56th position last year in the top 100-B Schools’ list globally, a press statement here said.
IIM-A is the only Indian B-school to figure in the top 100 list for the last four years.
The Institute has made it to the fourth position in the Asia and Australasia 2013 rankings.
It is also ranked No 1 on criteria such as student quality, opening new career opportunities, percentage increase on pre-MBA salary, and percentage of students in work three months after graduation.
Government plans to set up 2 spice parks in Uttrakhand
New Delhi: The Government of India plans to set up two spice parks at Sitarganj and Sahaspur in Uttrakhand with the help of Spice Board of India, said Mr Anand Sharma, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
The spice park coming up at Sitarganj would be a step towards boosting both production and quality of spices in the state. The Sitarganj spice park will initially help in production of ginger on a large scale and later move on to turmeric and chilly production, said Mr Sharma.
The Government also plans to build a convention centre at Pantnagar near Sitarganj, for which Rs 15 crore have already been sanctioned, added Mr Sharma.
The Centre has also cleared two horticulture processing projects in Uttarakhand, stated Mr Sharma. One horticulture centre is scheduled to come up at Yamuna Ghati and the other at Harshil in Uttarkashi district.
Moreover, in order to boost investment in Uttarakhand, Rs 50 crore have been separately sanctioned for developing industrial infrastructure in the state, highlighted Mr Sharma
The spice park coming up at Sitarganj would be a step towards boosting both production and quality of spices in the state. The Sitarganj spice park will initially help in production of ginger on a large scale and later move on to turmeric and chilly production, said Mr Sharma.
The Government also plans to build a convention centre at Pantnagar near Sitarganj, for which Rs 15 crore have already been sanctioned, added Mr Sharma.
The Centre has also cleared two horticulture processing projects in Uttarakhand, stated Mr Sharma. One horticulture centre is scheduled to come up at Yamuna Ghati and the other at Harshil in Uttarkashi district.
Moreover, in order to boost investment in Uttarakhand, Rs 50 crore have been separately sanctioned for developing industrial infrastructure in the state, highlighted Mr Sharma
Monday, October 14, 2013
Gujarat government plans exclusive zone for Japanese companies
Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government is planning a dedicated industrial zone for Japanese companies coming to the state. It has already earmarked the area for the project right next to Maruti Suzuki India Limited car plant near Hansalpur in Mandal taluka of Ahmedabad district.
Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), the nodal agency for the planned industrial development in the state, has initiated the process of developing the dedicated zone to facilitate setting up of medium and large size units.
Sources in the government informed, "Apart from ancillary units of Maruti Suzuki, a number of medium and large Japanese companies are keen to invest in Gujarat. GIDC plans to acquire around 500 hectares of land for the proposed zone on the model of Japan Industrial Zone developed by Rajasthan government in Neemrana in Alwar district. We are planning it on a bigger scale. We expect at least 25 companies to invest Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore each."
However, officials said that land acquisition in the area would be a major issue, especially after the recent Mandal-Bechraji SIR row. The GIDC plans to acquire only 150 hectares initially. "Thereafter we will gradually acquire more land. GIDC is also developing a dedicated auto industry estate in the region," sources added. The state government has given 670 acres at around Rs 643 per square metre to Maruti in Hansalpur. The company has sought additional 330 acres close to the plant site. Maruti had signed a state support agreement with the government for the purchase of land near Hansalpur to set up an all new manufacturing facility in June 2012. The plant is expected to be commissioned by 2015-16.
The company is planning to invest around Rs 4,000 crore for the unit with 1 million car annual capacity. Total direct or indirect employment generated is expected to be 1.5 lakh. The state government has given 'mega and innovative project' status to the venture.
Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), the nodal agency for the planned industrial development in the state, has initiated the process of developing the dedicated zone to facilitate setting up of medium and large size units.
Sources in the government informed, "Apart from ancillary units of Maruti Suzuki, a number of medium and large Japanese companies are keen to invest in Gujarat. GIDC plans to acquire around 500 hectares of land for the proposed zone on the model of Japan Industrial Zone developed by Rajasthan government in Neemrana in Alwar district. We are planning it on a bigger scale. We expect at least 25 companies to invest Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore each."
However, officials said that land acquisition in the area would be a major issue, especially after the recent Mandal-Bechraji SIR row. The GIDC plans to acquire only 150 hectares initially. "Thereafter we will gradually acquire more land. GIDC is also developing a dedicated auto industry estate in the region," sources added. The state government has given 670 acres at around Rs 643 per square metre to Maruti in Hansalpur. The company has sought additional 330 acres close to the plant site. Maruti had signed a state support agreement with the government for the purchase of land near Hansalpur to set up an all new manufacturing facility in June 2012. The plant is expected to be commissioned by 2015-16.
The company is planning to invest around Rs 4,000 crore for the unit with 1 million car annual capacity. Total direct or indirect employment generated is expected to be 1.5 lakh. The state government has given 'mega and innovative project' status to the venture.
Kozhikode Cyber Park eyes W. Asian markets
Kozhikode: The UL Cyber Park here, the first IT special economic zone (SEZ) in the cooperative sector in the country, will focus on big data, cloud computing and apps development, says its Chief Executive Officer P. Gopinath.
“We will go with the latest trends in the IT sector in order to meet the needs of the global market, especially the West Asian market,” Gopinath told Business Line in an interview. “The park has the potential to function as a back-office for the West Asian banking and financial industry.”
Rs 210-cr park
The Rs 210-crore first phase of the park, with a built-up office space of nearly half a million square feet, will open in December. Gopinath claimed that several top global IT brands had expressed intent to set up shop in the park.
Since the global IT industry is not in the pink of health at the moment, will it not impact the prospects of Cyber Park? “Our becoming operational will coincide with the anticipated bounce-back of the US economy from its slowdown,” Gopinath said. The US recovery would boost the IT industry.
When the park, promoted by Uralunkal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Ltd, becomes fully operational it will have 2.7 million square feet of office space.
Located on a hillside surrounded by greenery just outside the Kozhikode city, the park is strategically placed in terms of road, rail and air connectivities. Bangalore is 350 km away, and Kochi — home to SmartCity and Infopark — is 200 km away.
“Cyber Park will be the IT hub of the North Kerala region which has a lot of IT talent and companies spread all over,” Gopinath said. “We can have linkages with the IT facilities at Bangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore.”
The Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode; the National Institute of Technology; University of Calicut and University of Kannur are expected to supply managerial and technical manpower. Many IT firms as well as professionals, currently operating in Bangalore, were expected to relocate to the cyber park.
Sez status
The SEZ status, which reduces the tax burden of the companies substantially, will be an attraction for IT firms to the park. “We have a recipe for success in terms of strategic location, access, talent pool and the SEZ status.”
“We will go with the latest trends in the IT sector in order to meet the needs of the global market, especially the West Asian market,” Gopinath told Business Line in an interview. “The park has the potential to function as a back-office for the West Asian banking and financial industry.”
Rs 210-cr park
The Rs 210-crore first phase of the park, with a built-up office space of nearly half a million square feet, will open in December. Gopinath claimed that several top global IT brands had expressed intent to set up shop in the park.
Since the global IT industry is not in the pink of health at the moment, will it not impact the prospects of Cyber Park? “Our becoming operational will coincide with the anticipated bounce-back of the US economy from its slowdown,” Gopinath said. The US recovery would boost the IT industry.
When the park, promoted by Uralunkal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Ltd, becomes fully operational it will have 2.7 million square feet of office space.
Located on a hillside surrounded by greenery just outside the Kozhikode city, the park is strategically placed in terms of road, rail and air connectivities. Bangalore is 350 km away, and Kochi — home to SmartCity and Infopark — is 200 km away.
“Cyber Park will be the IT hub of the North Kerala region which has a lot of IT talent and companies spread all over,” Gopinath said. “We can have linkages with the IT facilities at Bangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore.”
The Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode; the National Institute of Technology; University of Calicut and University of Kannur are expected to supply managerial and technical manpower. Many IT firms as well as professionals, currently operating in Bangalore, were expected to relocate to the cyber park.
Sez status
The SEZ status, which reduces the tax burden of the companies substantially, will be an attraction for IT firms to the park. “We have a recipe for success in terms of strategic location, access, talent pool and the SEZ status.”
Coal India registers 9.6 percent growth in coal production
New Delhi: Coal India Ltd. has registered significant improvement in coal production, dispatch and supplies to the power sector which has resulted increase in coal based power generation. In the quarter ending September, 2013, coal production has shown a growth of 9.6%, coal dispatch 7.2% and coal supplies to power sector 7% over the second quarter of last financial year. This has led to a growth of 7% in coal based power generation. This was stated by was stated by Union Minister of Coal, Shri Sriprakash Jaisawal while addressing the inaugural session of “Clean Coal India 2013” being organized by the Confederation of Indian Industries hear today. He said for sustainable growth rate of 8%, country need to increase the primary energy supply by three times and electricity generation by five times by 2031-32. The energy demand keeps on increasing due to rising population, accelerated industrialization and urbanization.
Text of the Minister’s speech is as follows:
“Energy security and environmental considerations are the two big challenges the world is facing today. India is not exceptional to these challenges but the difference is that our developmental goals are more pressing compared to the global environmental considerations and the fact that our dependence on coal in meeting our energy requirements would continue in near future also makes it further challenging.
For sustainable growth rate of 8%, we need to increase the primary energy supply by three times and electricity generation by five times by 2031-32. The energy demand keeps on increasing due to rising population, accelerated industrialization and urbanization.
I am pleased to inform that performance of Coal India Ltd. in terms of coal production, coal dispatch and also coal supplies to the power sector has been very good during the month of September, 2013 as well as during the Second Quarter of the current financial year. In September, 2013 coal production has increased by 15.6%, off-take by 9.2% and coal supply to power sector by 9% as compared to September, 2012.
In the quarter ending September, 2013, coal production has shown a growth of 9.6%, coal dispatch 7.2% and coal supplies to power sector 7% over the second quarter of last financial year. This has led to a growth of 7% in coal based power generation.
In our country, coal being cheap and available in abundance is currently the most widely used fuel accounting for 55% of primary energy supply and 70% of electricity generation. As the coal plays an important role in our energy mix particularly for power generation, we need to use it efficiently and reduce its environmental implications. We need to frame and implement policies that improve the overall efficiency of power generation from coal. Given that our domestic production of coal is not keeping pace with the ever increasing demand,part of the deficit in coal supply can very well be met by minimizing the wasted energy by making investment in efficient end use plants. Investment in energy efficiencies could be very attractive as an incremental capital investment is recovered in a reasonable time period, energy costs are lowered and energy productivity enhanced.
A one percentage point improvement in the efficiency of a conventional pulverised coal combustion plant results in a 2-3% reduction in Carbon-dioxide emissions. Highly efficient modern coal plants emit almost 40% less Carbon-dioxide than the average coal plant currently installed. The average efficiency of pulverized coal-fired plants is currently about 35% compared to 45% for the most efficient plants.
Coal use has huge environmental foot print particularly when it is put to use for power generation. A number of technologies have been developed in the recent past to meet coal’s environmental challenges and collectively these are known as Clean Coal Technologies.
Broadly Clean Coal Technologies include –
Washing of coal,
Coal Gasification,
Coal Bed Methane and Coal Mine Methane extraction
Underground Coal Gasification
Coal Liquefaction
Coal conversion technologies for power generation like Fluidised Bed Combustion, Super critical and Ultra Supercritical technologies, Integrated Gas Combined Cycle, Carbon Capture and Storage, Oxyfuel etc.
The Government has already awarded 33 blocks for exploration and exploitation of CBM in four rounds of bidding and two blocks have reportedly entered into commercial production. Coal India Limited has successfully implemented a CMM project in association with UNDP in BCCL area.
The Government has notified coal gasification and coal liquefaction as end uses under captive mining policy. Two coal blocks have already been allotted to two private companies for development of CTL plants in the State of Orissa.
Use of coal as mined is not easy in view of the contaminants that are inherent in the coal seams and those which get associated in the course of mining. These impurities make it difficult even to maintain the in-situ quality of coal as it occurs in a seam and thus require cleaning of run of mine coal to a desired level so that quality aspects and concerns of consumers are properly addressed.
Indian coals are high in ash content, as high as 45% or even higher. Ash consumes thermal energy while coal is burnt in boilers. Reduction of ash in the coal that is fired in boilers helps in reducing the wastage of thermal energy and leads to lesser consumption of coal for producing the same amount of thermal energy. Reduced coal consumption eventually helps in reducing Green House Gas emission such as Carbon-dioxide and improves the thermal efficiency of power plants. A cost effective and significant step towards improving power plant efficiency and reducing the Green House Gasesemissions from the coal-fired power plants in India would be to increase the availability of clean beneficiated coals using appropriate beneficiation technologies.
I would like to reiterate that we need to make coal more environment friendly with proper planning and implementation right from conceptual stage. Washeries should be considered as profit centers of a mining project.
We have taken proactive measures on coal beneficiation that also ensures consistent supply of quality and sized coal to customers. In CIL, which is the single largest coal producing company in the world, the coal washing capacity is confined to 17 washeries operating today. Twelve are dedicated to wash coking coal with a capacity of 22.18 Million tonne per year and five are operational for non-coking coal with a capacity of 17.22 Million tonne per year. Coal India has planned to create additional washing capacity in the country through sixteen new coal washeries in first phase. The total installed capacity of these new washeries will be 92.1 Million tonne per year. Ten will be dedicated for non-coking coal with total capacity of 73.5 Million tonne per year and six for coking coal and their total capacity will be 18.6 Mty. Private participation is also being encouraged for installation of washeries to meet demand supply gap of washed coal.
When the issue of adoption of efficient and environmental friendly technologies comes up, the only available technology for power units is the Super Critical technology. Already eleven supercritical units with a total capacity of 7,400MW have been installed and a large number of supercritical units are under construction. About 50 percent of coal-based capacity addition in the Twelfth Plan is expected be based on supercritical technology. For the Thirteenth Plan, it has been decided that all coal fired capacity addition shall be through supercritical units. Moreover, integrated gasification with combined cycle plants is one of the focus areas for research in the country. Though this technology is commercialized, research efforts are being carried out to make it commercially viable to suit Indian coal – as it carries more ash content.
I am sure that this seminar will deliberate the relevant issues and come out with possible solutions for making our energy plans sustainable. While most of the above issues are taken care of by the policy makers, necessary additional policies, monitoring and regulatory mechanism are to be put in place to have total implementation.”
Text of the Minister’s speech is as follows:
“Energy security and environmental considerations are the two big challenges the world is facing today. India is not exceptional to these challenges but the difference is that our developmental goals are more pressing compared to the global environmental considerations and the fact that our dependence on coal in meeting our energy requirements would continue in near future also makes it further challenging.
For sustainable growth rate of 8%, we need to increase the primary energy supply by three times and electricity generation by five times by 2031-32. The energy demand keeps on increasing due to rising population, accelerated industrialization and urbanization.
I am pleased to inform that performance of Coal India Ltd. in terms of coal production, coal dispatch and also coal supplies to the power sector has been very good during the month of September, 2013 as well as during the Second Quarter of the current financial year. In September, 2013 coal production has increased by 15.6%, off-take by 9.2% and coal supply to power sector by 9% as compared to September, 2012.
In the quarter ending September, 2013, coal production has shown a growth of 9.6%, coal dispatch 7.2% and coal supplies to power sector 7% over the second quarter of last financial year. This has led to a growth of 7% in coal based power generation.
In our country, coal being cheap and available in abundance is currently the most widely used fuel accounting for 55% of primary energy supply and 70% of electricity generation. As the coal plays an important role in our energy mix particularly for power generation, we need to use it efficiently and reduce its environmental implications. We need to frame and implement policies that improve the overall efficiency of power generation from coal. Given that our domestic production of coal is not keeping pace with the ever increasing demand,part of the deficit in coal supply can very well be met by minimizing the wasted energy by making investment in efficient end use plants. Investment in energy efficiencies could be very attractive as an incremental capital investment is recovered in a reasonable time period, energy costs are lowered and energy productivity enhanced.
A one percentage point improvement in the efficiency of a conventional pulverised coal combustion plant results in a 2-3% reduction in Carbon-dioxide emissions. Highly efficient modern coal plants emit almost 40% less Carbon-dioxide than the average coal plant currently installed. The average efficiency of pulverized coal-fired plants is currently about 35% compared to 45% for the most efficient plants.
Coal use has huge environmental foot print particularly when it is put to use for power generation. A number of technologies have been developed in the recent past to meet coal’s environmental challenges and collectively these are known as Clean Coal Technologies.
Broadly Clean Coal Technologies include –
Washing of coal,
Coal Gasification,
Coal Bed Methane and Coal Mine Methane extraction
Underground Coal Gasification
Coal Liquefaction
Coal conversion technologies for power generation like Fluidised Bed Combustion, Super critical and Ultra Supercritical technologies, Integrated Gas Combined Cycle, Carbon Capture and Storage, Oxyfuel etc.
The Government has already awarded 33 blocks for exploration and exploitation of CBM in four rounds of bidding and two blocks have reportedly entered into commercial production. Coal India Limited has successfully implemented a CMM project in association with UNDP in BCCL area.
The Government has notified coal gasification and coal liquefaction as end uses under captive mining policy. Two coal blocks have already been allotted to two private companies for development of CTL plants in the State of Orissa.
Use of coal as mined is not easy in view of the contaminants that are inherent in the coal seams and those which get associated in the course of mining. These impurities make it difficult even to maintain the in-situ quality of coal as it occurs in a seam and thus require cleaning of run of mine coal to a desired level so that quality aspects and concerns of consumers are properly addressed.
Indian coals are high in ash content, as high as 45% or even higher. Ash consumes thermal energy while coal is burnt in boilers. Reduction of ash in the coal that is fired in boilers helps in reducing the wastage of thermal energy and leads to lesser consumption of coal for producing the same amount of thermal energy. Reduced coal consumption eventually helps in reducing Green House Gas emission such as Carbon-dioxide and improves the thermal efficiency of power plants. A cost effective and significant step towards improving power plant efficiency and reducing the Green House Gasesemissions from the coal-fired power plants in India would be to increase the availability of clean beneficiated coals using appropriate beneficiation technologies.
I would like to reiterate that we need to make coal more environment friendly with proper planning and implementation right from conceptual stage. Washeries should be considered as profit centers of a mining project.
We have taken proactive measures on coal beneficiation that also ensures consistent supply of quality and sized coal to customers. In CIL, which is the single largest coal producing company in the world, the coal washing capacity is confined to 17 washeries operating today. Twelve are dedicated to wash coking coal with a capacity of 22.18 Million tonne per year and five are operational for non-coking coal with a capacity of 17.22 Million tonne per year. Coal India has planned to create additional washing capacity in the country through sixteen new coal washeries in first phase. The total installed capacity of these new washeries will be 92.1 Million tonne per year. Ten will be dedicated for non-coking coal with total capacity of 73.5 Million tonne per year and six for coking coal and their total capacity will be 18.6 Mty. Private participation is also being encouraged for installation of washeries to meet demand supply gap of washed coal.
When the issue of adoption of efficient and environmental friendly technologies comes up, the only available technology for power units is the Super Critical technology. Already eleven supercritical units with a total capacity of 7,400MW have been installed and a large number of supercritical units are under construction. About 50 percent of coal-based capacity addition in the Twelfth Plan is expected be based on supercritical technology. For the Thirteenth Plan, it has been decided that all coal fired capacity addition shall be through supercritical units. Moreover, integrated gasification with combined cycle plants is one of the focus areas for research in the country. Though this technology is commercialized, research efforts are being carried out to make it commercially viable to suit Indian coal – as it carries more ash content.
I am sure that this seminar will deliberate the relevant issues and come out with possible solutions for making our energy plans sustainable. While most of the above issues are taken care of by the policy makers, necessary additional policies, monitoring and regulatory mechanism are to be put in place to have total implementation.”
Coffee consumption to touch over 125,000 tonnes
Bangalore: The Coffee Board of India has estimated consumption in India to be around 125,000 tonnes for 2013. Domestic consumption is growing at a rate of 5-6 per cent annually since 2010.
This is almost double the figure when compared with that of United States Department of Agriculture, which recently pegged the Indian consumption at 66,000 tonnes, while the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) has estimated it at over 100,000 tonnes. “We have commissioned a study to assess the exact consumption of coffee in India and the results of the study will be available by the end of December this year,” Coffee Board of India Chairman Jawaid Akhtar said. He said the domestic consumption was 58,000 tonnes in 1987 when the country's population was 820 million. In 2011, the consumption crossed the 1,00,000 tonnes mark, while the population touched 1.21 billion. “About 7-8 years ago, the domestic consumption was growing very slowly and now, it is growing faster. South India is the largest consumer of coffee at almost 75 per cent of the total consumption. The Coffee Board is making efforts to push the consumption in western, northern and eastern parts of the country,” Akhtar said.
“The Board is organising events like India International Coffee Festival (IICF) to project Indian coffee as 'good coffee' and specialty coffee. In this direction, we organised our IICF at New Delhi in 2012,” he said.
Recently, the ICO stated that the consumption of coffee is growing rapidly in exporting countries like Brazil, Indonesia and India. It has pegged the Indian consumption at 114,000 tonnes, showing a growth of 4.8 per cent annually.
“Assuming that the consumption has grown only at 5-6 per cent year on year since 2010, the consumption in 2013 could be in the range of 125,000 tonnes,” Akhtar told Business Standard.
The Coffee Board has pegged the production of coffee for the year 2013-14 at 347,000 tonnes in its post blossom estimates. However, the chairman stated that it could come down by at least 10 per cent due to heavy rains between June and August this year, which resulted into ‘wet foot’ and ‘black rot’ diseases.
In an effort to increase awareness about drinking coffee and its health benefits, the Coffee Board in association with India Coffee Trust is organizing the fifth edition of IICF 2014 at Bangalore from January 21 to 25, 2014.
“The event provides avenues for enterprise development through value addition while simultaneously contributing to the creation of skill based jobs, particularly in non-conventional coffee drinking areas at the consumer end. To facilitate entrepreneurial development, the Coffee Board has been providing training sessions on coffee roasting, brewing among others,” Akhtar said.
IICF 2014 is expected to see participation of 1,000 delegates for the conference and workshops and over 10,000 visitors at the exhibition. National and international experts in the coffee industry including policy makers, exporters, manufacturers and planters are likely to attend this flagship event of the Coffee Board.
This is almost double the figure when compared with that of United States Department of Agriculture, which recently pegged the Indian consumption at 66,000 tonnes, while the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) has estimated it at over 100,000 tonnes. “We have commissioned a study to assess the exact consumption of coffee in India and the results of the study will be available by the end of December this year,” Coffee Board of India Chairman Jawaid Akhtar said. He said the domestic consumption was 58,000 tonnes in 1987 when the country's population was 820 million. In 2011, the consumption crossed the 1,00,000 tonnes mark, while the population touched 1.21 billion. “About 7-8 years ago, the domestic consumption was growing very slowly and now, it is growing faster. South India is the largest consumer of coffee at almost 75 per cent of the total consumption. The Coffee Board is making efforts to push the consumption in western, northern and eastern parts of the country,” Akhtar said.
“The Board is organising events like India International Coffee Festival (IICF) to project Indian coffee as 'good coffee' and specialty coffee. In this direction, we organised our IICF at New Delhi in 2012,” he said.
Recently, the ICO stated that the consumption of coffee is growing rapidly in exporting countries like Brazil, Indonesia and India. It has pegged the Indian consumption at 114,000 tonnes, showing a growth of 4.8 per cent annually.
“Assuming that the consumption has grown only at 5-6 per cent year on year since 2010, the consumption in 2013 could be in the range of 125,000 tonnes,” Akhtar told Business Standard.
The Coffee Board has pegged the production of coffee for the year 2013-14 at 347,000 tonnes in its post blossom estimates. However, the chairman stated that it could come down by at least 10 per cent due to heavy rains between June and August this year, which resulted into ‘wet foot’ and ‘black rot’ diseases.
In an effort to increase awareness about drinking coffee and its health benefits, the Coffee Board in association with India Coffee Trust is organizing the fifth edition of IICF 2014 at Bangalore from January 21 to 25, 2014.
“The event provides avenues for enterprise development through value addition while simultaneously contributing to the creation of skill based jobs, particularly in non-conventional coffee drinking areas at the consumer end. To facilitate entrepreneurial development, the Coffee Board has been providing training sessions on coffee roasting, brewing among others,” Akhtar said.
IICF 2014 is expected to see participation of 1,000 delegates for the conference and workshops and over 10,000 visitors at the exhibition. National and international experts in the coffee industry including policy makers, exporters, manufacturers and planters are likely to attend this flagship event of the Coffee Board.
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