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Colombia coal mining could halt with government decree

  • : Coal
  • 24/10/03

Colombia's coal operations could come to a stop as the government will soon start issuing resolutions that regulate mining areas as temporary environmental reserves, Colombian Mining Association (ACM) director Juan Camilo Narino said.

The decree, enacted on 30 January, states the country's environment ministry will identify, delimit and declare through administrative acts reserves of natural resources in areas that require restoration and rehabilitation. Such areas will become environmentally protected zones for five years with the possibility of extending that period for an additional five years.

The decree takes away the autonomy and competence of the Regional Autonomous Corporations, which until now grants key licensing to keep coal operations running, but without those licences, coal operations could come to a halt, Narino told Argus on the sidelines of a hydrocarbon summit held in Cartagena.

Narino said coal, gold, copper and other types of mining firms are extremely concerned with the potential resolutions due to be issued as they need minor licences granted by the corporations. Such licensing includes environmental licences to pour water into channels, take water from rivers and to pass over rivers.

The environment ministry is likely to announce those resolutions at the CBD Cop 16 in Cali, Colombia, on 21 October-2 November. Colombia is set to champion a comprehensive and regionally inclusive approach to biodiversity conservation and climate action at this conference.

"The decree clearly states that those corporations could no longer grant permits," Narino said. "As a result, the operating activity of existing licences is unfeasible as you can no longer operate without those minor licences."

ACM has filed a lawsuit against the decree, while 11 industry unions, including the regional autonomous corporations, joined in suing the government in a lawsuit submitted on 6 August.

They filed the lawsuits with Colombia's state council, the highest administrative court in the country, while requesting precautionary measures including halting the decree. The state council agreed on studying the lawsuit and could annul the ruling, but it could take 6-12 months to examine the case. The state council must listen to the defendants — the environment ministry — lawyer Luis Eduardo Delgado Martinez said.

Environmental minister Susana Muhamad was summoned by congress to face a political control debate to explain the scope of the decree, Narino noted.

Narino levelled several other criticisms against the decree, including calling the time frame of the temporary environmental reserve designations arbitrary. He also said IT bypasses other legal and constitutional norms.


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24/11/08

Talks to restart as port of Vancouver lockout drags

Talks to restart as port of Vancouver lockout drags

Calgary, 8 November (Argus) — A labour disruption at the port of Vancouver is now into its fifth day, but the employers association and the locked-out union are to meet this weekend to try to strike a deal and get commodities moving again. Workers belonging to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 on Canada's west coast have been locked out by the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) since 4 November. This came hours after the union implemented an overtime ban for its 730 ship and dock foreman members. The two sides will meet on 9 November evening with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) in an effort to end a 19-month long dispute as they negotiate a new collective agreement to replace the one that expired in March 2023. The FMCS was already recruited for meetings in October, but that did not culminate in a deal. Natural resource-rich Canada is dependent on smooth operations at the port of Vancouver to reach international markets. The port is a major conduit for many dry and liquid bulk cargoes, including lumber, wood pellets and pulp, grains and agriculture products, caustic soda and sodium chlorate, sugar, coal, potash, sulphur, copper concentrates, zinc and lead concentrate, diesel and renewable diesel liquids and petroleum products. These account for about two-thirds of the movements through the port. Grain operations and the Westshore coal terminal are unaffected while most petroleum products also continue to move, the Port of Vancouver said on 7 November. As the parties head back to the bargaining table, the ILWU Local 514 meanwhile filed a complaint against the BCMEA on 7 November, alleging bargaining in bad faith, making threats, intimidation and coercion. "The BCMEA is trying to undermine the union by attempting to turn members against its democratically-elected leadership and bargaining committee, said ILWU Local 514 president Frank Morena on 7 November. "They know their bully tactics won't work with our members but their true goal is to bully the federal government into intervention." But that is just "another meritless claim," according to the BCMEA, who wants to restore supply chain operations as quickly as possible. The union said BC ports would still be operating if the BCMEA did not overreact with a lockout. "They are responsible for goods not being shipped to and from BC ports — not the union," Morena says. The ILWU Local 514 was found to have bargained in bad faith itself already, according to a decision by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) in October. Billions of dollars of trade are at risk with many goods and commodities at a standstill at Vancouver, which is Canada's busiest port. A 13-day strike by ILWU longshore workers in July 2023 disrupted C$10bn ($7.3bn) worth of goods and commodities, especially those reliant on container ships, before an agreement was met. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Mozambique’s Maputo port halts receipt of coal cargoes


24/11/06
24/11/06

Mozambique’s Maputo port halts receipt of coal cargoes

London, 6 November (Argus) — Mozambique's Maputo port has stopped accepting cargoes after the main entry point for trucking South African coal to the port was temporarily shut today because of rioting in the area. Authorities issued advisories to close the Lebombo port of entry, the main trucking route that links South Africa to Maputo, after media reports surfaced of trucks being torched in Mozambique. "[Maputo Port Development Co], in co-ordination with customs and other relevant Mozambican border authorities, has taken the decision to stop reception of cargo at the Port of Maputo," the operator told customers on Wednesday. Unrest in the country began after national elections on 9 October when the ruling party declared victory with a disputed 71pc of votes and extended its 49-year rule. Opposition to the election results in Mozambique has led to country-wide protests, now escalating to violence and rioting. Mozambique Ports and Railways Authority (CFM) issued a communique on 6 November informing customers about suspension of rail operations to ensure safety of staff and operators. On Monday, truck drivers were instructed to park on the side of the road and leave their vehicles. Customs officials also did not allow truckers to leave Mozambique for South Africa with any processed goods. Sources told Argus that traders were desperately looking for truckers to move coal bound for Maputo to Richards Bay instead "to make up for lost volumes". Trucking rates in South Africa are shooting up as a result. This will "lead to consolidation at non-RBCT ports or higher sales prices", a South Africa based trader said. "[The] implied demurrage has gone up at Richards Bay's Multipurpose and Dry Bulk terminals because of port queues," he added. Maputo serves as an increasingly important export port for South African coal producers who have taken to trucking or railing coal across the border owing to the transit problems South Africa's state-owned rail operator Transnet Freight Rail is experiencing. About 2.7mn t of South African thermal coal was exported from Maputo between January to October this year, according to Kpler data. The coal export figure stood at 5.48mn t for 2023. The dry bulk terminals at Maputo are privately owned by infrastructure operator Grindrod. It has 7.5mn t of export capacity for managing coal and magnetite. By Ashima Sharma Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump nears victory in US election: Update 3


24/11/06
24/11/06

Trump nears victory in US election: Update 3

Updates throughout with latest election results, market reaction Washington, 6 November (Argus) — Former president Donald Trump appears to be closing in on victory in the US election, after winning several key swing states. Trump, the Republican nominee, was declared the victor in Georgia and North Carolina shortly after midnight ET on election night, according to the Associated Press. Trump has also won the key state of Pennsylvania, several US networks said. Trump was leading vice president Kamala Harris in all four other key swing states — Wisconsin and Arizona, Michigan and Nevada — based on partial results as of 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT) on 6 November. The seven swing states will decide which candidate reaches the threshold of 270 electoral votes needed to win the election. Trump had secured 248 electoral votes as 02:00 ET, with Harris at 214. Victory in Pennsylvania, if confirmed, would give Trump 267 votes and all-but end Harris' chances of victory. The prospect of Trump's re-election sent Brent crude futures down by as much as 2.5pc to a low of $73.64/bl, largely reflecting gains in the US dollar. A strong dollar tends to weigh on prices of commodities by making purchases more expensive for buyers using other currencies. Trump has promised to pursue a radical shift for the US on policies related to energy, taxes, trade and foreign affairs — reversing many of the policies and legislation that Democrats have put in place under President Joe Biden. On energy policy, Trump said he wants oil and gas producers to "drill, baby, drill" to bring down domestic energy prices and to dismantle many of the regulations and climate policies put in place by Biden, which Trump dubbed the "Green New Scam". Trump said he would immediately lift a "pause" on licensing new LNG export terminals and restart oil development in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Trump wants to impose a 20pc tariff on all foreign imports and even higher tariffs on China. The next president faces decisions on the future of US support for Ukraine and related restrictions on Russian energy exports, enforcing US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela and how to contain the growing threat of an Israel-Iran war and its potential impacts on oil flows from the Middle East. Republicans also took control of the US Senate for the first time in four years. In the US House of Representatives, too many races are undecided for major networks to project control. In 2025, the US Congress is poised for a major fight on tax policy because of the year-end expiration of an estimated $4 trillion in tax cuts. By Chris Knight, Haik Gugarats and Kevin Foster Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump takes early lead in swing states: Update 2


24/11/06
24/11/06

Trump takes early lead in swing states: Update 2

Updates throughout with latest election results Washington, 5 November (Argus) — Former president Donald Trump is leading election tallies in a number of states crucial to winning the White House, but the final outcome of the presidential contest may take longer to determine. As of 11pm ET on Tuesday, Trump, the Republican nominee, was ahead of vice president Kamala Harris in Georgia and North Carolina, with almost 90pc counted in each state. With partial results in, Trump is running ahead of Harris in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Arizona, while she has a slight lead in Michigan. Ballot counting just now is getting underway in Nevada. The seven swing states will decide which candidate reaches the threshold of 270 electoral votes needed to win the election. Trump has promised to pursue a radical shift for the US on policies related to energy, taxes, trade and foreign affairs — reversing many of the policies and legislation that Democrats have put in place under President Joe Biden. On energy policy, Trump said he wants oil and gas producers to "drill, baby, drill" to bring down domestic energy prices and to dismantle many of the regulations and climate policies put in place by Biden, which Trump dubbed the "Green New Scam". Trump said he would immediately lift a "pause" on licensing new LNG export terminals and restart oil development in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Trump wants to impose a 20pc tariff on all foreign imports and even higher tariffs on China. The next president faces decisions on the future of US support for Ukraine and related restrictions on Russian energy exports, enforcing US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela and how to contain the growing threat of an Israel-Iran war and its potential impacts on oil flows from the Middle East. In the US House of Representatives, too many races are undecided for major networks to project control. But in the US Senate, Republicans appear likely to win control for the first time in four years, with West Virginia governor Jim Justice (R) flipping a seat held by senator Joe Manchin (I), who is retiring. In 2025, the US Congress is poised for a major fight on tax policy because of the year-end expiration of an estimated $4 trillion in tax cuts. By Chris Knight and Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US elections undecided as some polls close: Update


24/11/06
24/11/06

US elections undecided as some polls close: Update

Updates with changes throughout Washington, 5 November (Argus) — Early voting results from key US swing states point to a tight race between former president Donald Trump and vice president Kamala Harris, with the outcome carrying high stakes for energy policy, trade and climate change. Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada are the swing states that will decide which candidate reaches the threshold of 270 electoral votes needed to win the election. Early results from Georgia point to a slight advantage for Trump relative to his 2020 results in that state, which President Joe Biden then carried by nearly 12,000 votes. But early voting results also point to slight gains for Harris in some demographic segments relative to Biden's 2020 performance. That would make election results in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — which typically take days to complete the count — crucial for determining the outcome. Winning all three states would secure a victory for either candidate. In the US Senate, Republicans have a pathway to win control with a 51-49 majority by flipping one more seat, after West Virginia governor Jim Justice (R) was declared the winner in that state's Senate race by the Associated Press. Democrats are defending seats in close races in Montana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. If the Senate is tied, control will go to the party that wins the presidential election. Even before polls closed today, Trump said there was a "lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia" in a post on his social media site, in a rerun of his strategy in the 2020 election of making unsubstantiated claims about voting. Harris, in a campaign speech on Monday in Pennsylvania, said the election offered a chance to "turn the page on a decade of politics that have been driven by fear and division". Trump has focused heavily on energy policy and voter frustration about inflation in his bid for a second term. US motorists were paying an average of $3.07/USG for regular grade gasoline in the week ended on 4 November, the lowest price in 10 months, but still higher than at any point in Trump's first term. On the campaign trail, Trump has promised to bring down energy prices through a policy to "drill, baby, drill" and dismantling President Joe Biden's signature climate initiative, the Inflation Reduction Act. Harris has pledged to support the 2022 law and other Biden energy policies , such as continued support for electric vehicles. Harris has disavowed her 2019 pledge to ban hydraulic fracturing. But oil and gas companies remain concerned about restrictions on federal leasing and efforts to electrify the vehicle fleet if she is elected. The next president will decide key questions on energy policy, such as the licensing of new US LNG export facilities and regulating carbon emissions from power plants, oil and gas facilities and vehicles. The election will carry equally high stakes for companies involved in metals , agriculture and other commodities. Trump is planning a combative approach to trade, with a 20pc tariff on all foreign imports and even higher tariffs against China. In 2025, the US Congress is also poised for a major fight on tax policy because of the year-end expiration of an estimated $4 trillion in tax cuts. On foreign policy, the next president will face decisions on the future of US restrictions on Russian energy exports and US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela and how to contain the growing threat of an Israel-Iran war and its potential impacts on oil flows from the Middle East. Polls also show a tight race in the fight for control of the US House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a 220-212 majority and where up to 22 seats are deemed competitive, election ratings firm Cook Political Report says. By Chris Knight and Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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