July 2, 2012

Coal slag heap designated World Heritage site

France's Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin—along with its mining pit, workers' quarters and yes, slag heap—now joins The Great Wall and the Great Barrier Reef on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

July 2, 2012

Burning rivers: how coal and nuclear are sucking up our fresh water

The 20th century was characterized by the frenzied acquisition, storage, and use of oil. But many experts believe that the 21st century will be remembered as the century of water.

July 1, 2012

Mushrooms stopped coal formation 300 million years ago

Scientists may have solved the riddle why so little coal seemed to form after the end of the carboniferous period.

July 1, 2012

Coal terminal may destroy bird habitat

INTERNATIONALLY recognised bird habitats will be destroyed if Newcastle's fourth coal terminal goes ahead, opponents of the proposal have said. The Newcastle Coal Terminal Action Group, which is made up…

July 1, 2012

Australia’s carbon emission tax kicks in

After years of political wrangling, the Minerals Resource Rent Tax or MRRT takes affect as the country's largest polluters will now pay A$23 for every tonne of greenhouse gas they…

July 1, 2012

Billionaire Rinehart says she’s willing to buy back GVK shares

July 1 (Bloomberg) -- Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who sold a majority stake in her Hancock Prospecting Pty's coal projects to India's GVK Group last year, said she is happy…

July 1, 2012

Zambales leaders reject coal plant

Zambales leaders on Friday rejected plans for the construction of a 600-megawatt coal-fired plant here, during a public hearing that was arranged by a consortium of energy firms to convince…

July 1, 2012

Kazakhstan mining giants seek to placate simmering labour dissent

At 65, Pavel Shumkin says he has lived a decade longer than the average coal miner in Kazakhstan. He recalls a time when he drank beer with his bosses after…

June 29, 2012

Opposition victory in Mongolia vote promises greater share of mining profits for citizens

The opposition Democratic Party declared victory in yesterday’s parliamentary elections over Mongolia’s ruling party in a highly disputed election that focused on how to better share profits from a conflict-ridden…

June 29, 2012

Last coal train marks end of 250 years of Saarland mining

The last ten wagons of around 1,000 tonnes of coal trundled out of the Duhamel shaft, marking the end of a 250-year history of mining in the region.