Cement, Energy and Environment

SPAIN 'S SUNSHINE TOLL: ROW OVER PROPOSED SOLAR TAX "We wi ll be the only country in the world charging for the use of the sun," says Jaume Serrasolses. "Strange things are happening in Spain. This is one of them." Mr Serrasolses, the secretary of an association promoting the use of solar energy, SEBA, is referring to the government's proposal for a tax solely on those who generate their own electricity. They would pay a backup toll for the power from their solar panels, in addition to the access toll paid by everyone who consumes electricity from the conventional grid. Although the tolls vary, if you pay an access toll of 0.053 euros per kWh, you could face a backup toll of 0.068 euros per kWh. The new tax would extend the average time it would take for solar panels to pay for themselves from eight to 25 years, according to the solar lobby. The government says that with increasing "self-consumption", the income for conventional energy systems will decrease, but grid maintenance will cost the same. "If I produce my own energy, but am connected to the grid , having the backup in case my production fai ls, I have to contribute to the cost of the entire system," says Energy Secretary Alberto Nadal. The government is hoping the energy reform will settle a debt of 26bn euros (£22bn; $35bn), which has built up over years as a result of regulating energy costs and prices. Courtesy: Akshay Urja, December 2013, Vol. 7, Issue 2, 3 Pg. No. 9 CHINA PLANS BAN ON IMPORTS OF COAL WITH HIGH ASH, HIGH SULFUR China plans to ban imports of coal with high– ash and high-sulfur .content as the nation seeks to limit the dirtiest fuels to fight pollution . The world's largest coal consumer will encourage imports of higher-quality supplies, according to Ren Lixin, the head of the coal division at the National Energy Administration. Domestic demand for the fuel may rise "sl ightly" this year and imports are expected to be similar to 2013 levels, he said at a conference in Shanghai today. China is considering a ban on imports of some lower-quality coal as the government sets an annual agenda to address record pollution. The NEA has drafted different versions of plans since last May. A previous draft proposed limiting imports of lignite with a heating value lower than 4,540 kilocalories per kilogram, more than 1 percent sulfur and ash higher than 25 percent. China imported a record 330 mill ion metric tons of coal last year. China plans to ban imports of coal with high– ash and high-sulfur content as the nation seeks to limit the dirtiest fuels to fight pollution. The world's largest coal consumer will encourage imports of higher-quality supplies, according to Ren Lixin, the head of the coal division at the National Energy Administration. Domestic demand for the fuel may rise "slightly" this year and imports are expected to be similar to 2013 levels, he said at a conference in Shanghai today. China is considering a ban on imports of some lower-quality coal as the government sets an annual agenda to address record pollution. The NEA has drafted different versions of plans since last May. A previous draft proposed limiting imports of lignite with a heating value lower than 4,540 kilocalories per kilogram, more than 1 percent sulfur and ash higher than 25 percent. China imported a record 330 million metric tons of coal last year. Courtesy: Bloomberg, New York- 11.04.2014 Pg. No.1 CHINA'S TIANJIN BANS NEW STEEL, CEMENT PLANTS - REPORT The government of the industrial city of Tianjin in northern China said it would not approve any new steel, cement or non-ferrous metals plants in a bid to fight pollution, state media reported. The announcement, reported by Xinhua news agency, echoed similar statements by the governments in neighbouring Hebei province and Beijing, and is in line with a central government plan last year to restrict new manufacturing in key industrial centres. China has vowed to reverse the damage done to its environment by decades of untrammeled economic growth, and has identified the region of Beijing , Hebei and Tianjin as one of the key targets of a programme to curb big industries like steel, thermal power and cement, all major sources of smog. "I believe this is an economic strategy to cut down on over-capacity, and it will not lead to more steel plants being built elsewhere, so it will contribute to reducing emissions, especially in the hotspot areas," said Chu Yang , a senior analyst at China Policy, a Beijing-based consultancy. China has struggled to 53