China Shenhua Energy Co. ; first-half net profit up 36 percent

China Shenhua Energy Co., the country's biggest coal miner, said Friday that its net profit rose 35.7 percent in the first half of the year, according to preliminary data.

Net profit for January-June was 16 billion yuan ($2.3 billion), the company said in a statement, up from 11.8 billion yuan in first-half 2007.

The state-owned company, whose shares are traded in Hong Kong and Shanghai, did not provide first-half revenue or output figures.

Shenhua Energy is among many Chinese energy companies benefiting from surging demand due to China's robust economic growth. But while demand remains strong, Shenhua and other coal producers have seen their earnings potential crimped by domestic caps on coal prices. more

Coal-fired generation could become increasingly more important in the hydro-rich country

Coal-fired generation, which accounts for just 7% of Colombia's 13.5GW generation park, could become increasingly more important in the hydro-rich country, according to José Vicente Dulce Cabrera, advisor to the government mining and energy planning unit's energy planning department.

Coal played a small role in UPME's latest publication on the energy sector, Generation-Transmission Reference Expansion Plan 2008-22. Consumption has actually fallen in the past 10 years from 3.0MToe in 1997 to 2.6Mtoe in 2007, according to BP figures.

However, increased natural gas prices, which reflect declining production at the Guajira gas deposit, are providing a boost to coal, which will play a more prominent role in UPME's forecast this year. Natural gas-fired generators currently account for 13% of Colombia's capacity.

"We usually dispatch hydro generators, then gas and then coal," he said. "As a result, coal is not a very significant part of our generation. But this year, given Guajira's decline and changing natural gas prices, coal-fired plants have been dispatched more frequently."

That trend could continue as natural gas production is showing no signs of increasing and Colombia seeks ways to develop capacity to provide a backup for hydro. more

The New Coal Mining Center

Coal-mining is making a comeback in Southern Illinois. Rend Lake College is investing in that idea with a new facility to educate future miners.

With a line of shovels, more than a dozen people helped break ground on the new facility. The new coal mining center should be ready to start the hands-on training of students in the fall of 2009. Representative Kurt Granberg says with the increased cost of energy will come a greater need for Illinois Coal.

"We are on the verge of a great renaissance, a renaissance of coal for decades I've not been optimistic, now I am, I think the future is gonna happen and happen now," says Grandberg.

Interim president Charley Holstein says Rend Lake College has a great history of educating coal miners.

"In the late 1970's RLC had the distinction of offering one of the largest coal training centers in the US. With the new center, future miners may once again turn to Rend Lake College for a new career in mining," says Holstein.

The building will hold classrooms as well as a mock coal mine area for hands-on training.

source : http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=5391&type=top

KZN ; The revival of the coal mining industry will create much needed jobs and also provide an opportunity for skills development.

KwaZulu-Natal is set for another mining boom as moves are afoot to revive the province's dormant coal mining sector. This was revealed at a gathering in Durban last night attended by mining investors and experts.

The pending mining boom will come at the right time as there is a demand for coal to be used on the recently recommissioned power stations. Mining investors say there is great potential for mining in the province which has large deposits of coal that remain untapped.

The revival of the coal mining industry will create much needed jobs and also provide an opportunity for skills development. Small companies and new entrants in the mining industry also stand to benefit from the envisaged boom.

KZN, together with Mpumalanga, had been among the largest coal producers in the country until the early 90's when coal mines became obsolete. Experts say opportunities for women in the sector have increased and more women are being encouraged to venture into the industry.

source : http://www.sabcnews.com/economy/business/0,2172,174809,00.html