CHINA MINING News

China-Russia pipeline deal to shape global LNG prices: Tokyo Gas official

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Platts  Date: September 26, 2014

The deal between Russia and China for importing some 38 billion cubic meters/year of natural gas through a pipeline connecting the two countries represents a key development not only for the two parties involved, but also for the role it will have in shaping the global price of LNG, according to Shigeru Muraki, vice chairman of the board at Japan`s Tokyo Gas.
    
Speaking at the Adam Smith Sakhalin Oil and Gas 2014 conference in the Russian Far East late Wednesday, September 24, Muraki said that the many LNG export projects coming on stream in the next years in countries such as Australia, Russia and the US will not only have to compete between each other for demand, but also against the price set by pipeline imports deals such as the one between Russia and China, which has an estimated price of around $12/MMBtu.
    
Russia is set to export up to 38 Bcm/year of natural gas from fields in East Siberia to China over a 30-year period starting after 2018 through the Power of Siberia pipeline, of which construction started earlier in September.
    
Muraki said the coming years will be an "interesting time" for "gas markets in Asia, with more opportunities for suppliers and buyers" however many new projects coming on stream will have to compete for demand, with price being a key factor.
    
"Russia will take up a key role to provide supply through LNG and pipeline" he said, adding that meanwhile, Japanese buyers were now looking at diversifying gas supply sources and contracts towards a combination of long-term, short-term and spot contracts and were looking at prices based on the US Henry hub and UK NBP hub, beside traditional oil-indexed contracts.
    
Comparing production costs for international planned LNG projects and pipeline projects, he said that the expansion of Sakhalin-2 project as well as the Russia-Japan pipeline showed the most competitive price terms, against LNG exports from Australia and Russia`s Vladivostok.
    
Muraki said that some 20 million mt of gas demand will disappear from the Japanese market in the next two to three years, due to the planned restart of several nuclear power plants in the country.
    
However, the capacity of nuclear plants is set to decrease from 2020 onwards as they approach the end of their lifetime, creating scope for a potential increase in natural gas demand up to 100 million mt of LNG equivalent per year, in a scenario of increased price competitiveness and Henry Hub indexation.
    
Tokyo Gas is the first buyer of Russian LNG coming from the Sakhalin-2 terminal under a 24-year long-term contract which started in 2009.
    
Commenting on the recent round of sanctions against Russia, he told Platts that in the short-term it`s however difficult to commit to new Russian LNG supplies.
    
"At this moment because of the sensitivity of sanctions, it is hard to make a new commitment to take Russian LNG volumes," Muraki said.
    
CHINA DEMAND DEPENDENT ON DOMESTIC SHALE
    
Meanwhile, natural gas demand growth in China, a key market for new suppliers, is highly dependent on the scope of its shale gas production in the coming years, according to Keun-Wook Paik, senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.
    
Paik said shale gas production in 2015 in China was estimated at around 6.5 Bcm, however there was uncertainty on the potential growth to 2020, with estimates ranging between 30 Bcm/year to up to 100 Bcm/year.
    
He added that without a "breakthrough in the shale gas revolution" in China, "the gap of gas demand and supply will be significant" with total demand estimated at 550 Bcm/year and total domestic production at 300 Bcm/year.
    
He said of the remaining, some 160 Bcm/year are expected to come from pipeline gas imports and 90 Bcm/year from LNG imports.
    
Besides the deal for East Siberian gas, imports of another 30 Bcm/year have been agreed between the two countries, which "will put big pressure on LNG on suppliers," Paik said.
    
"That`s the dilemma faced by suppliers, how much market will be available" he said, adding that given the pipeline deal "any LNG supply above $12/MMBtu" cannot compete, at least for supplying the northern provinces in China.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2014 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2014. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 16^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2014, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

Flammable ice becomes promising energy source

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: China Daily  Date: September 18, 2014

 China will begin commercial production of gas hydrate - an enormous, untapped energy source in permafrost and ocean sediments - around 2030 as it tries to diversify its energy mix by tapping into unconventional sources.
    
Li Jinfa, deputy director of China Geological Survey, said that with consistent efforts in gas hydrate research and related policies, China will keep pace with advanced countries in turning the untapped resource into an energy solution.
    
China has been the largest global energy consumer since 2010, prompting authorities to increase research and exploration of unconventional energy sources such as shale gas and gas hydrate.
    
According to China Geological Survey, deposits of gas hydrate in China are estimated to be 110 billion metric tons in oil equivalent in permafrost and ocean sediments, while China consumed 2.6 billion tons in oil equivalent last year.
    
Li said he believed the energy source will gradually change China`s energy structure.
    
To realize commercial production, China is speeding up research and development in exploitation technology, and production testing in the South China Sea is expected to begin in 2017, Li said.
    
"The production testing will help improve mining technology and equipment, laying the foundation for future commercial production," Li said.
    
Gas hydrate, also called flammable ice, exists as ice crystals with methane gas locked inside, and is formed under high pressure and low temperatures in permafrost or under the sea. In China, it is detected in the permafrost in Qilian Mountains, Qinghai province and under the South China Sea.
    
When exposed to normal air pressure, the crystalline substance expands up to 164 times its volume, providing natural gas and water.
    
Natural gas is a relatively clean energy, releasing less than half the amount of carbon dioxide when burned that oil and coal do.
    
Although the resource has promising potential, no country has been able to produce it commercially due to the challenging conditions of the gas hydrate and the unpredictable environmental impact.
    
In March 2013, Japan became the first country to successfully extract gas from deepwater gas hydrate deposits, which makes widespread extraction of flammable ice just a matter of time. Besides Japan, the US and Canada have also invested significantly in gas hydrate research and test projects. The US launched a national research and development program in 1982 and completed its gas hydrate assessment in 1995.
    
South Korea and India are also looking to develop the resource. China started research on the energy source in the late 1990s with the first gas hydrate samples collected in the South China Sea in 2007.
    
In 2011, China successfully extracted natural gas from gas hydrate deposits about 130 to 400 meters under the surface of the permafrost in Qilian Mountains.
    
Although scientists in more than 30 countries and regions have researched the resource, Li admitted that the understanding of how drilling for hydrates may affect the environment is still limited.
    
"The sudden release of gas hydrate during improper drilling can influence the stability of seabed structures, even triggering geological disasters such as tsunamis and small earthquakes under the sea, posing severe challenges for future exploration," Li said.
    
Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, said there are huge environmental risks from commercializing gas hydrate production, because the high volumes of carbon dioxide can cause explosions and add to the greenhouse effect.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2014 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2014. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 16^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2014, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

China opens gold market to foreigners

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Xinhua  Date: September 18, 2014

Foreigners are now have access to China`s gold market after the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) launched its international board on Thursday.
    
The yuan-denominated board was launched in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, a move to encourage foreign participation in China`s tightly controlled gold market.
    
"The international board has made China`s opening up of the gold market a reality," said Xu Luode, the SGE chairman, adding that foreign participation and rising trading volume will make China a real international market.
    
The new international board hopes to challenge current gold market leaders London and New York. So far, it has attracted dozens of foreign members, including renowned international commercial and investment banks.
    
It is the first time in China`s capital market that foreign investors can participate in the investment and trading of yuan-denominated products without a capital cap, said a bank dealer on condition of anonymity.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2014 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2014. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 16^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2014, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

China`s dirty coal ban may threaten Australian exports: experts

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Xinhua  Date: September 17, 2014

The Chinese government`s decision to ban imports of lower quality coal, or "dirty" coal, from 2015 could affect a major portion of Australia`s coal exports to China, experts said on Tuesday.
    
Australia exports an estimated 50 million tonnes of thermal coal a year to China, which could be at risk with the ban.
    
The Chinese government has started to limit the use of imported coal with more than 40 percent ash and 3 percent sulphur, in an effort to improve air quality in its major cities.
    
Consultant Wood Mackenzie told media that it estimated that the Chinese ban could affect more than half of Australia`s thermal coal exports to China.
    
"Our product is typically around 5500 kilo calories and 24 to 25 percent ash. So we`ve got big problems," Bruce Jacques of IHS McCloskey Coal said.
    
However, the Minerals Council of Australia said the new rules would have little impact on Australian exports.
    
"There is nothing in the information released to date to suggest that Australian coal exporters will be disadvantaged and we are confident that we can meet the proposed specifications," Minerals Council executive director of coal Greg Evans told media.
    
"Australia is fortunate to have reserves of high quality black coal, which will continue to be in strong demand from established and emerging markets, including China."

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2014 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2014. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 16^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2014, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

Resource-hungry China successful in finding new mines

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Xinhua  Date: September 15, 2014

China has been more successful at finding new mines over the past three years than at any point since 1949, a Chinese mining official said on Friday.
    
With the country in desperate need of more natural resources to fuel its rapid growth, Chinese prospectors found 451 medium-sized and large mines of materials from oil to uranium between the start of 2011 and the end of 2013, according to Peng Qiming, director of the geological exploration department of the Ministry of Land and Resources.
    
"Our mine-finding efforts over the past three years have turned out the most remarkable results since 1949," said Peng at a press conference in Beijing.
    
In the three years, the geological prospecting activities added 3.95 billion metric tons of petroleum and 2.3 trillion cubic meters of natural gas to China`s new deposits, he said. The country consumed 167.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas last year.
    
Other new discoveries included 188.6 billion tonnes of coal deposits, a large uranium mine in Inner Mongolia, 9.25 billion tonnes of iron ore deposits, 15.07 million tonnes of copper mine deposits and 11 million tonnes of molybdenum mine deposits, according to the official.
    
The ministry also completed a quantitative study on 25 types of mineral resources in China and concluded that the country`s resources already prospected account for just one-third of the potential mines.
    
To fund this prospecting, China spent 350 billion yuan (about 57 billion US dollars), 28 percent more than between 2008 and 2010.
    
Over 85 percent of the funding came from the private sector, following the government`s unveiling of an action plan to lure more private investment into mine prospecting between 2011 and 2020.
    
The world`s largest energy consumer, China relies heavily on imports to meet its demand for resources, particularly in oil, natural gas and iron ore.
    
Policymakers have been working in recent years to diversify the source of energy supply, and tapping domestic resource deposits and developing renewable energy are considered important ways of doing so.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2014 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2014. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 16^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2014, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

Chinese, Tajik presidents inaugurate construction of gas pipeline, thermal power plant

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Xinhua  Date: September 15, 2014

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon attend the completion ceremony of first-phase project of the Dushanbe No.2 power plant and the groundbreaking ceremony of second-phase project of the Dushanbe No.2 power plant in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, Sept. 13, 2014.

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon on Saturday attended the construction commencement ceremony of the Tajikistan section of Line-D of the China-Central Asia Gas Pipelines. 

The 1000-km-long Line-D, one of China`s major energy cooperation projects in Central Asia, will run from Turkmenistan across Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to China, with an expected delivery capacity of 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas every year once construction is completed in 2016.
    
Among all countries the pipeline travels through, Tajikistan has the longest section of about 410 km.
    
At the commencement ceremony, Xi called the China-Central Asia Gas Pipelines a strategic cooperation project that involves and benefits multiple parties, saying it is very important for regional economic development.
    
The fact that Line-D will run through the lofty and steepy Pamirs and its long distance will make the construction a very tough task, said Xi.
    
However, he said, "I believe that this energy aorta, a symbol of China-Tajikistan friendship, will be built on time with joint efforts and close cooperation between our two countries."
    
With thriving cooperation between China and Central Asian nations in recent years, the old Silk Road which links them has been undergoing a revival, Xi said.
    
"We should carry on the ancient Silk Road spirit, pass on our friendship, deepen cooperation and jointly build a brighter future for the relations of our two nations, " said Xi.
    
For his part, Rahmon said Line-D embodies reciprocal and win-win cooperation of the two nations, adding that it will create more than 3,000 jobs in Tajikistan.
    
Tajikistan is ready to work with China to achieve common development, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity, he said.
    
Earlier in the day, the two presidents also attended a ceremony in Dushanbe that marked the completion of the first-phase construction of a thermal power plant and commencement of the second phase.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2014 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2014. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 16^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2014, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

China, Turkmenistan to deepen energy cooperation

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Xinhua  Date: September 15, 2014

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov  in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, Sept. 12, 2014.

China and Turkmenistan on Friday vowed to deepen energy cooperation and jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt.
    
The agreement was made at a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on the sidelines of the 14th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe.
    
Xi said the China-Turkmenistan strategic partnership realized a good start and the two countries have become a community of shared interests and common destiny. He urged the two sides to continue to deepen the energy cooperation.
    
The Chinese president called on the two countries to ensure the construction and operation of the China-Central Asia gas pipeline as well as the construction of the second phase of the Fuxing Gas Field.
    
The two countries should optimize trade structure, expand cooperation in such fields as electricity, manufacturing industry and agriculture, jointly push forward the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and promote cooperation in transportation and telecommunication, Xi said,
    
The two countries should jointly fight against "the three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, said Xi, adding that China is willing to help Turkmenistan to popularize the Chinese language and promote people-to-people exchanges.
    
Berdymukhamedov said Turkmenistan will enhance mutual political support with China and boost practical cooperation.
    
He thanked China for respecting the permanent neutrality policy adopted by Turkmenistan, adding that his country will continue to support China firmly on the issues concerning China`s core interests and major concerns.
    
The president said Turkmenistan will realize the goal of transferring gas to China as scheduled by participating in the construction of Central Asia-China gas pipeline and the second phase of the Fuxing Gas Field.
    
Turkmenistan is willing to participate in the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt, improve its own transportation infrastructure and promote transborder transportation between Central Asian countries and China, Berdymukhamedov said.
    
The Sept. 11-12 summit brought together Xi and his counterparts from other members of the SCO.
    
Founded in 2001, the SCO groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It has Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as observers, and Belarus, Sri Lanka and Turkey as dialogue partners.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2014 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2014. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 16^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2014, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

MOFCOM announces new rules on Chinese overseas investment

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Xinhua  Date: September 9, 2014

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has announced new measures which will make it easier for domestic companies to invest overseas.
    
Under the new rules, the ministry cedes its previous control over approval of investment projects. Only overseas investment projects in sensitive countries or regions as well as in sensitive industries will require approval from the MOFCOM.
    
Such sensitive countries or regions include countries that have not established diplomatic ties with China and countries that are under the UN sanctions.
    
Other overseas investment projects only need to register with the MOFCOM, according to the new measures posted on the ministry`s  website Saturday.
    
Aimed at allowing more freedom in outbound investment, the measures take effect on October 6 this year.
    
Previously, any overseas investment project worth more than $100 million was required to be approved by the MOFCOM. Overseas investment in energy and mining, and projects between $10 million and $100 million were also required to seek approval from provincial commerce departments.
    
Overseas investment companies in industries covered by China`s export restriction policies or projects affecting more than one foreign country`s interests are still subject to  MOFCOM`s approval.
    
Apart from the MOFCOM, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China`s top economic planner, has the power to approve or veto an overseas investment project.
    
According to the new measures released by the NDRC in April, Chinese companies planning to invest less than $1 billion overseas will only need to register with authorities instead of seeking approvals from the NDRC.
    
Any overseas investment project larger than $1 billion must be approved by the NDRC and investment above $2 billion must be approved by the State Council.
    
Apart from being one of the most popular destinations for foreign investment, China has also become the world`s third-largest investor during the first seven months of the year, investing $52.55 billion in non-financial companies in 149 countries or regions, according to the MOFCOM.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2014 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2014. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 16^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2014, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.