How Canada’s emissions cuts could spur Keystone XL pipeline approval

Hiroko Kumagai will never forget the day in 1998 when she first stepped inside the red-brick building at the entrance to the closed and shuttered Miyahara shaft in the Miike coal mine. Image from YouTube

The number of deaths caused by coal mine gas explosions in China declined sharply during the first half of this year, coal mine safety authorities said. A total of 245 people died in 62 gas explosions that occurred between January and June this year, a year-on-year reduction of 31.2 and 25.3 percent respectively, the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety said.

China will need large quantities of Australian raw materials as its industrialisation and urbanisation race ahead, despite concerns about weak global economic conditions, Australian Trade Minister Craig Emerson said on Friday. Emerson also hinted that a fall in the Australian dollar amid the volatility that has jolted global financial markets for the past week was good, saying its strong currency had hurt manufacturing and exporters.

The lead singer of the band Radiohead is also joining the campaign against Keystone XL. Thom Yorke posted on the band's website, calling the pipeline "one of the big red climate self destruct buttons." Picture of Thom Yorke at the Latitude Festival, Suffolk, 2009

First Uranium announced that on August 11, 2011 a fatality occurred at the Ezulwini mine. An internal investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident. A day of mourning started on Thursday evening night shift in sympathy of the deceased. The Department of Mineral Resource's review and investigation is also in progress.

Forbes & Manhattan Coal Corp.announced its first quarter financial results for the three months ended May 31, 2011. First quarter financial highlights were the following: revenue of $19.6 million; gross profit of $4.2 million; and consolidated EBITDA of $5.6 million and Slater Stand Alone EBITDA of $6.2 million (see non- GAAP measures); and cash and cash equivalents of $19.8 million. The average monthly revenue for the first quarter 2012 was $6.5 million. In fiscal 2011, from the date of acquisition to February 28, 2011 (a seven month period), average monthly revenue was $3.9 million. This represents a 65% increase in average monthly revenue.

For around $2 a day some Afghan children as young as 10 work long hours in the country's coal mines with no safety gear and, until now, no government mining policy to protect them. While national law allows Afghan children to work up to 35 hours a week from the age of 14, they are not allowed to do hazardous jobs such as mining.

Recent developments are rapidly stacking the odds against Alberta oil sands: the oil price has fallen 20% in one month, the gap between US crude and world prices hit a record on Wednesday above $24, the premium syncrude enjoyed in recent months is melting away and Canadian heavy oil's discount to US crude has widened to $15. The question now is how many of the $100 billion of oil sands projects in various stages of development will be completed or run at a profit when Canadian crude only attracts $60-$70 a barrel and could go lower. Sky-rocketing labour and equipment costs and a rising loonie could well turn out to be the proverbial last straw.

Imperial Oil  and Exxon Mobil Corp  said on Monday they have revised plans to ship massive pieces of oil sands equipment on US highways through Idaho and Montana after legal challenges and protests forced delays. The two companies have spent months battling conservationists and residents along the Clearwater and Lochsa rivers in an attempt to move the two-lane-wide 'megaloads'. They will now try to dismantle the shipments and move them in smaller loads on bigger highways at a cost of some $70 million and the possibility of further delays for their $11 billion Kearl oil sands project.