News around the world ( Seite 300)

"Globe Investor - Paid For Research" - eResearch - (10/09/2008)
www.eresearch.ca/_report/Paid-ForResearchGlobeArticle2008Oct…

SA's carbon consideration - Mininggmx - Oct 9, 2008
- Marc Ashton -
www.miningmx.com/mining_fin/782010.htm

"[miningmx.com] -- THE South African government has been vocal about its intention to place a price on carbon pollution, probably in the form of a carbon tax.


When such an initiative is introduced, it will create an instant liability on the balance sheet of many mining businesses operating in South Africa. As a result, management of these companies will need to protect stakeholders against such events.

This is the opinion of Kevin James, CEO of Global Carbon Exchange, a South Africa- and Australia-based consulting firm that assists business assess its global carbon ‘footprint’ and develop appropriate strategies to address its impact on the environment.

The Kyoto Protocol has placed strict regulations on companies operating in both developed and developing countries around the world in an effort to curb carbon emissions. As a result mining houses that have operations on many continents are required to reduce these emissions or face large fines.

James feels that the global nature of many of South African mining houses has made them more aware of the implications of such legislation. “Anglo Platinum, Harmony Gold and BHP Billiton have all reported their footprints under the CDP (carbon disclosure project), while Exxaro Coal has made mention of the fact that they want to be carbon neutral,” said James.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an independent not-for-profit organisation which acts as an intermediary between shareholders and corporations on all climate change related issues, providing primary climate change data from the world’s largest corporations, to the global market place.

JSE-listed companies such as Omnia and Sasol have already realised financial benefits from carbon related investments. Omnia has generated around R60m following the sale of credits and Sasol has banked around R100m in credits on its balance sheet in the last financial year.

“There are many carbon opportunities within the mining sectors, there is no question that opportunities do exist and mining companies need to capitalise on the added stream of finance that the clean development mechanism (CDM) represents,” said James. He went on to say that mining companies to date, have not taken advantage of these opportunities.

“I do believe that there will be an upsurge in this activity, particularly in the integrated industries such as smelting where energy costs and security is now becoming a factor.”

Renewable energy

James also believes that mining companies are beginning to approach issues around carbon emissions as more than just a social upliftment or ‘grudge’ investment.

“I believe that many of the projects that companies invest in voluntarily to offset their carbon footprints, are very exciting” he said.

He points to a renewable energy as a primary example, including energy from waste materials. “It makes a lot of sense for Africa given the shortage of energy and the surplus of waste. Waste can include anything with organic matter in it, like manure, landfill, biomass, waste water. On the right scale this will solve a lot of problems.”

Another opportunity that James identifies is around implementing alternative energy solutions to replace the high emission and increasingly expensive diesel generator sets that have become common place in mining activities across Africa.

James concludes: “Carbon credits can play a big part in making these renewable energy projects more financially viable and sustainable.”

Read more on carbon credits in the 2008 Finweek mining Green Book, which is publicly available from 13 October as a supplement with the Finweek magazine."

Carbon Disclosure Project Report 2008(CDP6) - Global 500 - CDP/PWhC
www.cdproject.net
www.cdproject.net/reports.asp

Making Energy Efficiency A National Priority - Energy Future Coalition
www.energyfuturecoalition.org/preview.cfm?catID=115

Climate Leaders Take Big Steps to Leave Smaller Carbon Footprints - EPA, WASHINGTON - 10/08/2008
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb852…


Contact Information: Suzanne Ackerman, (202) 564-4355 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov

"(Washington, D.C. – Oct. 8, 2008) Leading corporations are demonstrating that reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is both good for the environment and their business success. Seven companies were commended today for achieving significant GHG reductions and leaving a smaller carbon footprint through EPA's Climate Leaders program, the largest GHG goal setting program in the United States. In addition, 15 companies will be recognized for announcing new reduction goals, and 31 companies will be welcomed as new partners during the agency's Climate Leaders conference.

"EPA's Climate Leader partners are proving that businesses can save green by going green," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "These leading companies are reducing their climate footprints in cost-effective ways and contributing to this country's energy independence."

Together, the 226 Climate Leaders members represent more than ten percent of the U.S. gross domestic product and have pledged GHG reductions equivalent to the emissions of nine million cars annually.

Seven companies are being recognized today for having achieved their significant GHG reduction goals over the last four to five years, and four of these companies have also made new commitments to reduce their GHG emissions. The seven goal achievers are: 3M, Pfizer Inc.; Hasbro Inc.; Caterpillar Inc.; FPL Group Inc.; Sun Microsystems Inc.; Mack Trucks Inc.

Launched in 2002, Climate Leaders is an industry-government partnership that has provided guidance and recognition to leading companies to help them develop and implement comprehensive climate change strategies.

Information about Climate Leaders Program: www.epa.gov/climateleaders/

15 Companies that pledged new GHG emissions reductions goals: ACE Group of Companies; Agilent Technologies; Alcoa; Best Buy Co. Inc.; Citigroup Inc.; DPR Construction Inc.; EarthColor; LSI Corp.; NVIDIA Corp.; Owens Corning; PepsiCo; Quad/Graphics Inc.; Sprint; The Boeing Co.; and Turner Construction Co.

31 New Partners: Autodesk; Best Transportation; California Limousine; Carlisle Construction Materials; Classique Limousines; Company Car and Limousine; ConAgra Foods; Continuum; EmpireCLS; Fetter Printing Co.; Fleet Transportation, LLC; Genworth Financial; Invitrogen Corp.; Lexmark International Inc.; Limited Brands Inc.; Luxury Limousines of Sacramento; News Corp.; Niagara Conservation; Nortel, Research Triangle Park; Novartis Corp.; Pall Corp.; Partners Executive Transportation; Pure Luxury Transportation; Royal Coachman Worldwide; STERIS Corp.; Syngenta; The Sherwin-Williams Co.; University Corp. for Atmospheric Research; UPS Inc.; Virgin America; Yahoo! Inc. "

Europe's Vulnerability to Energy Crisis - World Energy Council 2008 - February 2008

- The growing dependency of Europe as a whole on energy imports and anticipated further increases in energy prices reinforce the concerns about meeting the energy demand in the future.

The objective of the Study is to identify the threats leading to potential energy crises and suggest solutions for facing, the related key challenges. - (...)
www.worldenergy.org/documents/finalvulnerabilityofeurope2008…

Bremer Landesbank - Forex Report: Krise verschärft sich – „Carry-Trades“ unter Druck – „Deleverage“ Motto der Stunde! - Financial.de - Oct 10, 2008
www.financial.de/experten/2008/10/10/bremer-landesbank-forex…

TopStory Rohstoffe: Rezessionsgefahr in Italiens metallverarbeitender Industrie - Financial.de, TopStory - Oct 9, 2008
www.financial.de/news/top-stories/2008/10/09/topstory-rohsto…

"Nach einem zweijährigen Aufschwung droht der metallverarbeitenden Industrie in Italien die Rezession. Seit dem letzten Quartal 2007 hat sich die Produktion in der Branche schlechter entwickelt als im Durchschnitt der verarbeitenden Industrie. Nur in einzelnen Bereichen, wie bei Apparaten für die Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie und den Telekombereich ist eine leichte Belebung festzustellen. Die allgemein trübe Situation wird durch den erstmals seit Jahresmitte verzeichneten Exportrückgang belastet. Die überdurchschnittlich wachsenden Lohnkosten von 3,6% im ersten Halbjahr 2008 drohen die Konkurrenzfähigkeit weiter zu verschlechtern.

Zusätzlich belastet die Verteuerung der Kreditzinsen viele Unternehmen. Die italienischen Firmen, die sich in der Oberflächenbehandlung von Metallen engagieren, dürften 2008 einen leichten Umsatzrückgang von 1,5% auf insgesamt knapp über 2 Mrd EUR verbuchen. Oberflächenbehandlung von Metallen ist ein wichtiger Teil der Zulieferindustrie und macht knapp ein Fünftel der gesamten Branche Metallbearbeitung aus. Wichtigstes Kundensegment ist die Automobilindustrie gefolgt von der Bauwirtschaft und den Elektro- und Elektronikbetrieben. Alle drei Sparten melden 2008 erhebliche Produktionsrückgänge.

Positiv entwickelt sich hingegen der Absatz bei der Luft- und Raumfahrt sowie bei Teilen der Konsumgüterindustrie. Im Konsumgüterbereich konzentriert sich die Oberflächenbehandlung primär auf die Luxusbranche, in denen Metallteile zur Anwendung kommen. Wichtiger Abnehmer sind die Hersteller von Brillen und Sonnenbrillen, von Schmuck und Accessoires im Modebereich wie etwa Gürtelschnallen, Koffer- und Taschenverschlüsse. Zu den schwachen Punkten zählen die durch die kleine Unternehmensdimension bedingten geringen Innovationsinvestitionen. Im vergangenen Jahr wurden knapp über 1% des Umsatzes in Forschung- und Entwicklung investiert.

Deutschland ist sowohl der wichtigste ausländische Lieferant wie auch der wichtigste Abnehmer der Branche. Rund 14% aller Exporte werden in Deutschland abgesetzt und deutsche Firmen liefern knapp 24% des italienischen Importbedarfs. Der bilaterale Handel schließt in der Regel mit einem kräftigen Überschuss zugunsten Deutschlands ab. Italiens metallverarbeitende Industrie hat in den letzten Jahren am Weltmarkt Marktanteile verloren. Der Produktivitätsverlust machte seit dem Jahr 2000 rund 10% aus. Manche Sparten, wie etwa die Büromaschinenindustrie mit einem Produktionsminus von 40% im ersten Halbjahr haben kaum Überlebenschancen. Laut einer Untersuchung des Institutes für Außenhandel ICE machte der Anteil am Weltmarkt bei Metallen und Metallprodukten 2007 rund 4,6%, bei Maschinen und Apparaten für die metallverarbeitende Industrie 9,1%, bei Elektromaschinen und Apparaten 1,6%, bei Pkw 3,2% und bei anderen Transportmitteln ebenfalls 3,2% aus."