China is losing its appetite for Russian coal as import taxes and logistical snarls push Asia’s biggest buyer to cheaper alternatives. Russian exports plunged 22% in the first quarter after Beijing imposed a tax regime at the start of the year that favors some of Russia’s rivals. The higher costs have been compounded by an increase in tariffs on Russian railways amid limitations on capacity, the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association said in a note. The Kremlin’s surcharge on exports to help fund its war in Ukraine has also hindered competitiveness. Russian sales to China incr ..read more

China’s coal consumption will fall by just one-third by 2040, according to a report by a European consultancy published on Tuesday, threatening climate targets that call for phasing out much of global coal use by 2040. The International Energy Agency has said that global coal power capacity has to be eliminated by 2040 to keep average global temperature rises within the key threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). However, Norwegian risk assessment firm DNV said in its report that its findings indicate China’s coal consumption – the world’s biggest – will see a “minor uptick ..read more

Australia’s Whitehaven Coal (ASX: WHC) said on Friday strong performance at the Maules Creek and Gunnedah open cut mines resulted in an improved third-quarter output and indicated that a stake sale process for its recently bought Blackwater mine is underway. The country’s top independent coal miner had in October said it would buy BHP Group’s Blackwater and Daunia mines, which are part of the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) metallurgical coal joint venture in Queensland, for $4.1 billion. “A sell down process of about 20% of Blackwater to global steel producers as strategic joint ..read more

The United States Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) launched a series of fee-based grants totalling more than $124.8 million, available through fiscal year 2024 to states and tribes for abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation efforts. In a media statement, OSMRE explained that AML fee-based grants are funded, in part, by a fee collected on all coal produced in the United States.  “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law reauthorized and extended the AML fee through September 30, 2034, ensuring AML fee-based grants to states and tribes through 2035,” the brief reads. “In ..read more

BHP Group on Thursday said it expects to announce the fate of its Western Australian nickel operations by August, while it trimmed fiscal 2024 output estimates from its Queensland coal operations, reflecting significant wet weather impacts. The world’s largest listed miner continues to review plans for its Western Australian nickel operations while focusing on preserving cash. Nickel prices have slumped due to a jump in lower cost supply from Indonesia, casting a shadow over prospects for nickel production elsewhere around the globe such as in high cost Australia. BHP put the operations under ..read more

The US Department of Labor announced Tuesday that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued a final rule to better protect the nation’s miners from health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica, also known as silica dust or quartz dust.   The final rule lowers the permissible exposure limit of respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for a full-shift exposure, calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average. If a miner’s exposure exceeds the limit, the final rule requires mine operators to take immediat ..read more

Left to right: Councillor Kyle Shottanana, Councillor Garrett Gravelle, Robin Sheremeta – President, Teck Coal, Nasukin Heidi Gravelle, Councillor Avery Gravelle, Sheila Risbud – VP of sustainable development, Teck Coal. TheYaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ’it First Nation and Teck Coal Limited on Tuesday announced the signing of a relationship charter which formalizes the commitment of both parties to develop and sustain a strong working relationship, and a Stewardship Agreement which outlines collaboration on environmental and cultural stewardship projects.  The relationship charter establishes a ..read more

A ..read more

A ..read more

A ..read more