“On a global level, if the populations in China or India approach anywhere close to the living standards of the advanced countries, there will be tremendous pressure on world energy supplies. Right now, each person in china consumes one-fifth of the energy used per person in the advanced nations, including industrial uses, and each person in India, consumes one-tenth the energy. If energy uses per person in India and china rise to even half the level of industrialized countries, we will need major breakthroughs in energy technology…..” wrote Michael J. Mandel in his 2004 best-seller ‘Rational Exuberance.’
The cataclysm has already happened.
Both India and China are now busy scouting for resources, to satisfy the growing demand of their combined two and a half billion population of the total six billion Homo Sapiens on Earth. The world needs coal and crude oil for energy, iron ore, bauxite and other minerals for infrastructure, and uranium for nuclear power. Unfortunately the known sources of such resources are limited. There is a mad rush to explore the hitherto unexploited resource bases. Digging is a common sight in deep sea, desert lands or frozen mass. USA, the breeding ground of global greens, is now keen to shelve its environmental concerns in order to explore crude oil in its backyard. Coal has become favourite source of energy despite overwhelming concern for CO2 emissions. Global mining companies are busy merging and acquiring smaller companies in order to generate financial leveraging capacity. Africa has emerged a favourite destination for many a resource hunter given the abundance of mineral and sparseness of population there. Exploration of resource is less troublesome where the land has less population pressure. Thus Africa, particularly the sub-Saharan Africa has become the cynosure of the mineral scavengers. And China has come triumphant in this global race.
The hunt for resources has created a new geo-political equation. China has been beating the West in befriending the African nations. To win over the government support in underdeveloped African countries, China has been generously providing infrastructure aid. Not only is this creating goodwill for China, but the improved infrastructure is furthering economic exploitation of natural resources. Beaten at their own game, the West is crying foul.
Realizing the criticality of resource availability India too has joined the race. Indian companies both privately owned, and state controlled, are seen picking up mines around the world. In addition the country is busy digging up its own soil more and more. However the problem remains – the issue of ‘displaced human habitat’. Predictably nobody likes to be uprooted from his today for the sake of an uncertain tomorrow. More so, since the exploration and exploitation of resources impact the livelihood of tribals and natives, who are living off the land for centuries. No wonder there is widespread Resentment, un-Rest, and even armed Rebellion. Those resisting such invasion often plunder the equipments of the resource hunters, even resort to arsons and killings. Vedanta, Essar, Posco, Tata, NMDC – all suffered as result. The state machinery can do little in the face of spontaneous resistance from within. Fortunately there are companies like the Navratna Coal India Limited. The PSU coal giant has been paying attention to relief and rehabilitation plan. It has earmarked a hefty capital expenditure for that matter. Success of resource exploration will depend on the success of Coal India in its novel endeavour.
The cataclysm has already happened.
Both India and China are now busy scouting for resources, to satisfy the growing demand of their combined two and a half billion population of the total six billion Homo Sapiens on Earth. The world needs coal and crude oil for energy, iron ore, bauxite and other minerals for infrastructure, and uranium for nuclear power. Unfortunately the known sources of such resources are limited. There is a mad rush to explore the hitherto unexploited resource bases. Digging is a common sight in deep sea, desert lands or frozen mass. USA, the breeding ground of global greens, is now keen to shelve its environmental concerns in order to explore crude oil in its backyard. Coal has become favourite source of energy despite overwhelming concern for CO2 emissions. Global mining companies are busy merging and acquiring smaller companies in order to generate financial leveraging capacity. Africa has emerged a favourite destination for many a resource hunter given the abundance of mineral and sparseness of population there. Exploration of resource is less troublesome where the land has less population pressure. Thus Africa, particularly the sub-Saharan Africa has become the cynosure of the mineral scavengers. And China has come triumphant in this global race.
The hunt for resources has created a new geo-political equation. China has been beating the West in befriending the African nations. To win over the government support in underdeveloped African countries, China has been generously providing infrastructure aid. Not only is this creating goodwill for China, but the improved infrastructure is furthering economic exploitation of natural resources. Beaten at their own game, the West is crying foul.
Realizing the criticality of resource availability India too has joined the race. Indian companies both privately owned, and state controlled, are seen picking up mines around the world. In addition the country is busy digging up its own soil more and more. However the problem remains – the issue of ‘displaced human habitat’. Predictably nobody likes to be uprooted from his today for the sake of an uncertain tomorrow. More so, since the exploration and exploitation of resources impact the livelihood of tribals and natives, who are living off the land for centuries. No wonder there is widespread Resentment, un-Rest, and even armed Rebellion. Those resisting such invasion often plunder the equipments of the resource hunters, even resort to arsons and killings. Vedanta, Essar, Posco, Tata, NMDC – all suffered as result. The state machinery can do little in the face of spontaneous resistance from within. Fortunately there are companies like the Navratna Coal India Limited. The PSU coal giant has been paying attention to relief and rehabilitation plan. It has earmarked a hefty capital expenditure for that matter. Success of resource exploration will depend on the success of Coal India in its novel endeavour.
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