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MiningWeek Online
July 23, 2004 Volume 10, Issue 29
This Week's Issue:
NMA: World Bank lending for mining projects should be reformed, not stopped
NMA this week told the World Bank (WB) that its participation in financing mineral mining projects can help to strengthen the economic opportunities of local communities and at the same time provide long-term benefits far beyond the life of specific projects.
“The development of a country’s mineral and energy resources through its indigenous mining industry can result in the alleviation of poverty and contribute to economic growth,” said NMA’s Connie Holmes, Senior Economist and Director of International Policy.
In comments on the Bank’s response to the Extractive Industries Review report, NMA endorsed recommendations for strengthening governance and transparency and efforts to mitigate environmental and social risks of development. These goals can best be achieved, said NMA, not by imposing inflexible standards on the wide diversity of conditions found in project countries, but by using appropriate indicators and risk assessments that will measure progress under varying circumstances.
“Projects should be analyzed in consultation with all stakeholders on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all feasible environmental management alternatives and others that are appropriate for the individual circumstance,” said Holmes.
“We fully support the World Bank’s response to the Extractive Industries Review report that there should not be a veto power for any group or individual but instead that free, prior and informed consultations should take place.”
Particularly important to fast-developing economies, said NMA, is the development of coal for electricity generation. The International Energy Agency’s “World Outlook” projects that coal will remain the largest source of electric power through 2030, and developing countries with indigenous coal reserves will account for most of the 1 billion ton increase in coal use forecast in this period.
“The World Bank’s participation in coal-fired electricity projects can ensure that clean coal technologies — those that produce low sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions — are chosen and built,” said Holmes. NMA believes such technologies justify including coal in the mix of clean energy projects designated as preferred candidates for Bank lending.
For the full text of Holmes’ comments, visit www.nma.org/pdf/pol_briefs/extractive_industries_comments_071904.pdf.
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Curad, Johnson & Johnson introduce silver bandages
The Silver Institute reports that two major wound dressing makers, Curad and Johnson & Johnson, both have recently introduced products as part of a growing trend in silver-based bandage usage.
Beiersdorf USA, maker of Curad bandages, is marketing a line of wound-care products using silver as a natural antibacterial: Curad Silver. The new bandage line uses silver in the wound pad to help protect minor cuts, scrapes, abrasions, lacerations and scalds. Curad Silver Natural Antibacterial Bandages are available as assorted, extra large and active gel, which promise multi-day holding ability. Company officials say Curad Silver is worn like any other bandage, without the addition of an antibacterial cream or ointment.
For the health care professional market, Johnson & Johnson has introduced SILVERCEL antimicrobial alginate dressing, providing the protection of silver and the absorption of alginate. Alginate dressings are highly absorbent, biodegradable dressings made from seaweed. They keep wounds moist, which not only promotes healing but limits damage during dressing changes.
Company officials say SILVERCEL can be especially helpful in healing chronic, hard-to-heal wounds that may be infected as a result of a high bacterial count. Because of a sustained release of silver ions, the dressing acts as an effective barrier and may help reduce infection. Silver’s antimicrobial properties are built-in through the use of X-STATIC Silver Fibers.
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DOE selects 11 new fuel cell projects totaling $4.2 million
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance Program (SECA) has selected 11 new projects with a total value of nearly $4.2 million to focus on solving remaining issues in developing solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems for commercial use.
The grant-winning projects will look at developing improvements in fuel cell materials and performance, as well as attaining target capital costs of less than $400 per kilowatt, all of which make fuel cells “extremely competitive” with conventional power generation, DOE said.
The projects are: Georgia Institute of Technology – will develop new materials for SECA high temperature fuel cells to resist the detrimental effects of sulfur; Tennessee Technological University – will develop a new class of metal alloys for service as interconnect materials in SECA fuel cell stacks; Southwest Research Institute – will develop modifications to interconnect materials in SECA fuel cell stacks to avoid adverse reactions with differing adjacent materials and environments; University of Utah – will survey the types of oxide layers that may form on various steels in the SOFC environment and characterize their electric conductivity and stability; Arcomac Surface Engineering LLC – will develop and apply a multiple-layer nano-coating to low thermal expansion, low-cost ferritic stainless steels to improve their performance and durability as SOFC interconnect materials; Southern Illinois University at Carbondale – will employ a new synthesis method for producing high quality, low-cost powders of titanium carbides for fabricating interconnect components; University of Cincinnati – will develop glasses that are able to “heal” thermal cycle-induced microcracks in situ; University of Connecticut – will develop a multi-layered composite structure consisting of thin layers of oxidation-resistant metals, porous ceramics and glasses; University of Missouri-Rolla – will develop new, thermochemically-stable sealing systems based on glasses and glass-ceramics that are compatible with other SOFC components; ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures LLC – will develop the expertise to inject and vaporize diesel fuel; and Delevan Inc. dba/Turbine Fuel Technologies – will evaluate existing and new fuel injector designs, select the most promising concept(s) and integrate through computer modeling.
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Illinois government scientists claim most mercury is natural
Research by two Illinois government scientists claims that most mercury (Hg) found in the environment is natural and not of anthropogenic origin.
The paper by Derek Winstanley and Edward Krug, who work for the Illinois State Water Survey, tests the theory that coal-based power plant emissions are the leading cause of mercury in fish. In the paper, “Comparison of mercury in atmospheric deposition and in Illinois and USA soils,” the authors compared the estimated anthropogenic emission levels against newly-measured levels of mercury in Illinois, U.S. and world soils.
The result, they say, is that human emissions cannot possibly explain the observed amounts of mercury. They conclude that there must exist a natural global mercury flux that is significantly larger than human emissions, and that much of it may be waterborne, not airborne. “If so, then reducing the estimated 50 tons of mercury emitted by U.S. coal-based power plants might have little or no effect on environmental mercury levels,” they said in the journal, Hydrology and Earth System Science.
In short, “the hypothesis that most Hg in Illinois and USA soils is of anthropogenic origin is rejected,” they conclude.
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Nine attorneys general file nuisance suits against power companies
The attorneys general of the states of New York, California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, Vermont and Wisconsin and the city of New York this week filed nuisance suits against the nation’s five largest power companies to cap and reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.
“A Manhattan courtroom is not the proper forum in which to establish national energy and environmental policy,” NMA President Jack Gerard said in response to the suit. He characterized the effort as a “misguided diversion from meaningful policy solutions” and pointed out that Congress had consistently refused to embrace the AGs approach, “which would impose a costly and draconian approach on the American consumer.”
Gerard also expressed concern that the suit—if successful—could jeopardize more meaningful opportunities such as the Department of Energy’s Climate Challenge and the ready-for-launch FutureGen program.
The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court in Manhattan, and Gerard noted that, “We trust the court will dismiss this attempt to circumvent the public policy process.”
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EZ Voting now available
In twenty-nine states, voters can now choose their own ‘election day,’ opting to vote as early as 50 days before the election by mail or in person, without having to provide an approved reason.
“We want people to know that early voting is for everyone,” said Greg Casey, the Business Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) President and CEO. “Casting a ballot seems simple and most people will tell you they voted. But with busy schedules, transportation issues, illness, travel and emergencies, there are a lot of reasons why well-intentioned registered voters don’t make it to the polls.”
For more information on EZVote, visit www.ezvote.org.
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Teck Cominco reiterates commitment to EPA
Teck Cominco, in response to a lawsuit launched by the Colville Confederated Tribes, restated its $13 million commitment to clean up Lake Roosevelt in Washington State.
The case, filed in U.S. federal court, seeks to enforce an administrative order issued six months ago to Teck Cominco to submit to U.S. Superfund law.
“This suit will result in time and money being wasted on litigation, which could best be used to address the public’s environmental concerns regarding Lake Roosevelt,” said Doug Horswill, Senior Vice President of Environment and Corporate Affairs.
“Teck Cominco committed last year to fund independent human health and ecological studies of metals in Lake Roosevelt at an estimated cost of $13 million. We also committed to pay to clean up metal contamination attributable to our operations to ensure Lake Roosevelt is safe,” said Horswill.
Teck Cominco’s offer to the EPA may be found at www.teckcominco.com.
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Newsbits
In a letter to House and Senate leaders last week, Governors George Pataki of New York, Jeb Bush of Florida, Rick Perry of Texas and Arnold Schwarzenegger of California voiced their support for energy tax provisions included in the Senate energy bill, calling the provisions “critically needed tools to expand our ability to generate clean energy, manage electricity demands, and improve electricity transmission infrastructure.…The House and Senate have passed the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2004, establishing a commemorative coin to celebrate the founding of the Jamestown colony in 1607. The bill calls for the minting of $5 gold coins and $1 silver coins to mark the anniversary.…Arch Coal has named Patricia Fry Godly to their Board of Directors. Godley is a partner with the law firm Van Ness Feldman, P.C. in Washington DC. She previously served as the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy.…Jeffery Kohler has been appointed Associate Director for Mining at NIOSH. He had previously served as Director of the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL). The position of Acting Director of the laboratory will be filled by Guner Gurtunca, who was serving as a senior scientist at PRL specializing in mine safety and health research.… Usibelli Coal Mine Inc. has signed a contract with Glencore Ltd. for one or two trial shipments of coal from its mine in Healy, AK, to a power plant in northern Chile. The first ship will arrive in Seward in August to load 45,000 metric tons for the trial shipment. If proven compatible with the customer’s boilers, there is an option for a second shipment in November, the company said . . . . American Electric Power has named Andrew Patterson as senior vice president – corporate development and William D’Onofrio as vice president – utility business services for AEP Utilities. In addition the company has named Jim Garrett as plant manager of AEP’s Cook Coal Terminal in Metropolis, IL . . . . P&H Mining Equipment said Ed Quinn has retired as vice president and managing director of P&H MinePro Services – Australasia. Tim Moore, who previously held the position of general manager of P&H Australasia’s South East Region, replaced him effective July 1.… CONSOL Energy’s Bailey Mine Rescue Team of West Finley, PA, won first place at the West Virginia State Mine Rescue, First Aid, Bench and Pre-shift Contest held in Beckley, WV. The team’s members include: Captain Dennis Vicinelly; George Joseph, Mike Spears, Kevin Williamson, Dave Cass, Steve Edgehouse, Bob Calhoun, Gene Menozzi, and Larry Cuddy.
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