By Chris Cooper and Kiyotaka Matsuda

Daiichi Chuo Shipping sees boom in US imports as increased use of shale gas frees coal for export

(Updates with closing share price in fifth paragraph.)

Jan. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha, a Tokyo- based shipping line, said it’s targeting a boom in coal exports from the U.S. as shale gas production frees up the fuel for sales overseas. The shares jumped the most in three years.

“Exports of coal from the U.S. could easily double in the next three or four years,” Saburo Koide, president of the company, said in an interview in Tokyo yesterday. “We’ve already had several inquiries on shipping coal from there,” he said, declining to name potential customers.

No Need to Panic About Global Warming

There's no compelling scientific argument for drastic action to 'decarbonize' the world's economy.

A candidate for public office in any contemporary democracy may have to consider what, if anything, to do about "global warming." Candidates should understand that the oft-repeated claim that nearly all scientists demand that something dramatic be done to stop global warming is not true. In fact, a large and growing number of distinguished scientists and engineers do not agree that drastic actions on global warming are needed.

On January 23, 2012, a federal judge denied a motion by anti-mining groups to add a NEPA-based health effects claim to a pending challenge to a "fill" permit issued by the Corps of Engineers. In Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, et al. v. U.S. Army Corps, et al., Civil Action No. 3:11-0149 (S.D. W.Va. 2012), Doc. No. 84 ("Order"), the Court ruled that the proposed additional claim was "futile." This case involves a challenge to a permit issued by the Corps of Engineers under Clean Water Act § 404 permit for Highland Mining Company's Reylas Surface Mine located in Logan County, West Virginia.

According to the EIA’s weekly energy report, domestic coal production continues to trend slightly upward, rising approximately 0.2 percent for the 52 weeks ending January 14, with a total of 1.08 billion tons produced for the period. The nation’s coal mines produced 21.1 million tons for the week of January 7-14. The number of rail cars loaded also increased, by 3.2 percent, from 133 thousand cars to 137 thousand.

Metallurgical coal exports continued to lead the way, up 54 percent from this time last year. However, export steam coal sales slumped, down 13 percent.

In West Virginia, coal production continued to be up slightly as measured year over year, up 0.5 percent, on production of 136 million tons for the 52 weeks ending January 14. Last year’s production total was 133 million tons. Northern West Virginia coal production led the way, increasing 1.9 percent for the period, while production in the southern West Virginia coalfields fell 0.1 percent.

The 2011 edition of Coal Facts is now available at the offices of the West Virginia Coal Association. The annual publication features an overview of key coal production, employment, distribution, consumption and tax data for both West Virginia and the nation. It also features reclamation and restoration of former mine land, post-mine land use, overviews of the history of coal in our state and the permitting process. Copies will be in the mail shortly and can be picked up at the WV Coal Association offices in Charleston.