U.S. Helping Chinese Coal Mines Clean Their Act

We constantly hear rhetoric from extremists about how the U.S. is the major culprit in the production of greenhouse gases in the world. What we don't hear is how U.S. technology is leading the way in helping some of the worst polluters in the world to reduce their emissions. The project discussed in the news release below is a good example of U.S. leadership in reducing pollutants into the atmosphere.

U.S. Helps Chinese Coal Mines Find Ways to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Release date: 09/16/2008

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

(Washington, D.C. - Sept. 16, 2008) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has committed more than $1 million to assess the economic and technical feasibility of recovering and using methane from coal mines in China. If methane recovery programs are implemented at all three project sites, up to 1.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent could be reduced each year. That's equal to the annual emissions of up to 330,000 passenger vehicles.

"Methane recovery technologies can be...(complete news release here).

Niger Plus China Equals Oil

China is hungry for energy in all of its forms. This is a two-edged sword for the world. If China cannot get the energy that it needs from peaceful means, there is incentive to take it by force. If China gets the energy that it needs, with its population and size of economy, it will dominate the world scene. If you were their neighbor wouldn't you be nervous? This world is pretty small. I think we're all their neighbor.

Niger set to become oil producer

China will invest $5bn (£2.5bn) over the next three years to develop oil production in Niger.

State-owned China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) is expected to produce the country's first barrel of oil in 2009.

Under the agreement, CNPC will build a 2000-km pipeline and a refinery with a capacity of 20,000 barrels a day.

The investment in...(complete article here).

China Ag and Economic Data

From the USDA comes another important data set:

China Agricultural and Economic Data

Chinese Bio-diesel

Two million metric tons annually of bio-diesel is a lot!

China Agro-Technology to build biodiesel refinery

March 10, 2008

The company said the $200 million plant would be able to produce 2 million metric tons annually.

Singapore-based China Agro-Technology (OTC: CAGTF) announced today that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of...(complete article here).

Argentine Beef Genes To China

Better beef for China.

Argentine firm to export bovine genetics to China

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina, a country famous for its steaks, will start exporting bovine genetics this year to China, which is trying to improve its meat production as consumption surges.

The world's second-largest beef producer, China produced...(complete article here).

Energy Crunch for China and India

How much fuel is necessary to move a million man army from China, through India, to the Middle East in order to secure an oil supply?

China and India's pressing energy crunch

By Kumar Malhotra
BBC News

The warm welcome given by Chinese and Indian diplomats to the recent agreement by the two countries to strengthen economic, military and business links did not specifically mention one key issue - access to power supplies.

Fifteen years ago, China didn't import any oil at all.

Yet by 2030, it will be importing the same as US currently imports daily. And India's daily oil imports will have overtaken the European Union and Japan.

Those figures are from...(complete article here).

China Water Problems

Drought seems to be an increasingly common headline. Water is now and will continue to be the #1 issue. Period. Worldwide.

China reels from worst drought in a decade

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is suffering its worst drought in a decade, which has left millions of people short of drinking water and has shrunk reservoirs and rivers, state media said on Friday.

Hardest hit are large swathes of the usually humid south, where water levels on several major rivers have plunged to historic lows in recent months.

"The drought is the most serious...(complete article here).

Pesticide Regulation in China

This is a good thing...

China boosts control of sprawling pesticide market

BEIJING (Reuters) - China, reeling from a series of scandals over the safety of its food, will pull thousands of pesticides from the shelves to improve regulation of their sale and use, the Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday.

Farmers are faced with some 23,000 products sold under 16,000 names, leaving them unclear as to what they are spraying on their crops and in what quantities.

"Right now there are more than 1,700 in...(complete article here).

U.S. - China Biofuels Cooperation Pact

In spite of fears that they will use their economic clout to damage our economy, China is an extremely important trading partner. They also use a lot of energy. It is in our interest to aid them in utilizing current technologies to reduce their use of fossil fuels such as oil and coal. It is an economic issue, an energy security issue, and an environmental issue.

December 12, 2007

U.S. and China Increase Biofuels Cooperation Ahead of the Third U.S. – China Strategic Economic Dialogue

Marks Third U.S. –China Agreement to Advance Energy Security Reached This Year

BEIJING, CHINA – The U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE) and Agriculture (USDA) and China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) agreed to strengthen and expand cooperation on biofuels production and use, ahead of the third U.S. – China Strategic Economic Dialogue set to open in Grand Epoch City on Wednesday. This MOU promotes energy security interests between the two countries with the ultimate goal of significantly reducing fossil fuel consumption by increasing the use of clean, renewable fuels such as those derived from biomass. Representing the United States at a signing ceremony in Beijing on Tuesday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Clay Sell signed the MOU with NDRC Vice Chairman Zhang Xiaoqiang.

“As the two largest energy consumers and automobile markets in the world, we are eager to strengthen cooperation with China to...(complete article here).

China and the Environment

I've been saying from the day I started this blog that China is a serious environmental disaster in the process of happening. Forbes magazine agrees.

Global ETF Briefing

The Inconvenient Truth About China

Carl Delfeld, Chartwell ETF Advisor 10.12.07, 6:40 PM ET

Nobel Peace Prize co-winner Al Gore might want to change the name of his famous $40 million PowerPoint presentation to “The Inconvenient Truth About China.” While the media and policy establishment are preoccupied with global warming issues that may have important consequences in 50 years, an environmental disaster exists in China right now. This significant challenge, however, is also a major opportunity for the Chinese leadership and American business.

To get your attention, below is just a sampling of facts drawn from...(complete article here).

China and Iran - Oil and Weapons

This looks to me like an Armagedon scenario if there ever was one.

11/14/2007 15:32
IRAN – CHINA

Beijing offers Iran diplomatic cover (and weapons) for oil barrels

China’s foreign minister and Iran’s president praise Sino-Iranian friendship as their two-way trade reaches US$ 20 billion. Iran today gives the IAEA papers with information on nuclear weapon parts.

Tehran (AsiaNews) – Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said that stronger Sino-Iranian ties are good for regional and international peace. Mr Yang, who arrived in Iran yesterday, today met his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In a warning against the “enemies of the two nations” Mr Ahmadinejad said that “nothing can distort this friendly relation.”

The Iranian nuclear crisis was discussed in all the talks Mr Yang held in Tehran. The Iranians claim that their nuclear plans are peaceful. The international community suspects that Iran will escalate the nuclear civilian programme into a military one.

China believes that Iran has the right to...(complete article here).

Do you feel threatened yet?

China Pollution Caps?

China produced 58% of the carbon emissions worldwide in the period 2000-2006.

China Signals Rejection of Emission Caps

By JOE McDONALD Associated Press Writer

BEIJING (AP) -- A Chinese official gave the clearest sign yet that Beijing will reject binding caps on greenhouse gas emissions at a global meeting next month, saying Friday developing countries must be allowed to raise emissions to fight poverty.

"Climate change is caused mainly by developed countries," Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui said. "They should have the main responsibility for climate change and to reduce emissions."

Beijing is about to overtake the United States as...(complete article here).

New Conservation Network in China

This is the first of its kind for China.

New conservation network set up to protect wetlands in China

09 Nov 2007Beijing, China – A new wetland conservation network has been established along the central and lower Yangtze River, providing a platform for management organizations, research institutions, social groups and the public to protect wetlands and battle climate change.

Wetlands are critical to mitigating...(complete article here).

Wetlands are an important buffer for many reasons -- especially in coastal areas.

African Oil for Arms From China

This feels hauntingly familiar. It reminds me of the "Cold War" era and Soviet influence in Africa.

Analysis: Chinese arms and African oil

by Andrei Chang
Hong Kong (UPI) Nov 5, 2007

China has been promoting arms-for-oil deals with Africa as the continent is becoming one of its major sources of oil. Since last year, top Chinese leaders and military officers have made frequent visits to Africa. And at the Zhuhai Air Show under way this week in southern China's Guangdong province, military delegations from African countries including Sudan, Angola and Zimbabwe have made frequent appearances.

In 2005, Angola exported to China nearly 17.5 million tons of crude oil, becoming China's second largest oil supplier after Saudi Arabia. Oil from Angola makes up nearly 14 percent of China's annual oil imports, valued at $6.58 billion. In the months of January and February last year, Angola surpassed Saudi Arabia to become China's largest supplier of crude oil, providing 456,000 barrels per day.

China's influence in Angola is becoming increasingly noticeable. The...(complete article here).

Chinese Oil Demand

Chinese pressure on petroleum prices worldwide will continue to be an issue even as more and more alternative fuels become available. Their energy consumption is outpacing the growth of their economy. As more affluence trickles through their economy, demand for once-considered-luxury items such as automobiles will grow.

10/31/2007 16:27
CHINA

Petrol crises hits Chinese boom

While the price of petrol per barrel continues to climb the government orders a price freeze to block inflation. Hunger for energy is weak point of Chinese economy.

Beijing (AsiaNews) – The price of petrol and the government’s attempts to stop inflation are at the roots of the drastic petrol and kerosene rationing at petrol pumps. Even in the capital many stations of the state Sinopec are rationing their supplies.

The rations have been in vigour for some time now in the rich coastal areas: Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. But it has now spread to poorer regions such as Anhui, Henan, and Hubei.

The problem is caused by the government’s reluctance to allow the selling price of petrol and diesel rise; for fear that an increase will result in a new wave of inflation hitting the poorest most. The last increase...(complete article here).

Chicken Litter

There have been several articles recently concerning a shortage of phosphate fertilizers -- especially in certain parts of the world. Maybe, rather than research to reduce the amount of phosphorous in chicken litter, we should be researching ways to increase the output and concentration of phosphorous in the litter, then focus on ways to extract that concentrated phosphorous as a phosphate for export to China which seems to be one of the areas suffering a shortage. Brazil, which already imports large amounts of phosphate from the U.S. would be another potential customer.

CSREES Research Results

Modified Diet Reduces Chickens' Impact on Environment

Media Contact:Jennifer Martin (202) 720-8188

October 30 , 2007 By Stacy Kish

Chickens, like millions of Americans, are beginning a new diet. But instead of reducing their waists, this diet is intended to cut out excess waste, which creates a major pollution problem for waterways. Scientists at the University of Delaware devised a new poultry feed that limits the impact of animals on the environment.

William Saylor and colleagues at the University of Delaware evaluated a natural enzyme, called phytase, which helps animals digest more phosphorus. The addition of the enzyme to animal feed resulted in a 23 percent reduction in the phosphorus content of chicken manure.

Phosphorus is an integral component in any animal's diet, but scientists have known for some time that animals do not digest much of the phosphorus in most animal feed. Poultry are...(complete article here).

Space-based Solar Power

World power demands will only increase as economies in lesser developed countries gain traction. China and India alone will increase world power demands significantly.

China, the US, and space solar power

by Taylor Dinerman
Monday, October 22, 2007

Now that the National Security Space Office’s (NSSO) space solar power study has been released and shows that the technology is well within America’s grasp, a set of decisions have to be made concerning how the US government should proceed. The idea that the government should fund a series of demonstration projects, as the study recommends, is a good place to start. Another aspect should be to study the impact that this technology will have on the political and economic future of the world.

The biggest factor in world affairs in the next twenty or so years is the rise of China to true great power status. Leaving aside the political vulnerabilities inherent in any communist regime, the greatest danger to China’s future prosperity is its huge need for energy, especially electricity. According to...(complete article here).

Space is the only source of reliable solar power. Availability of land-based solar is dependent on cloudless days. That isn't an issue in space.