World Coal Association

The World Coal Association (WCA) is a global lobby group for "major international coal producers and stakeholders" with membership open "to companies and not-for-profit organisations with a stake in the future of coal from anywhere in the world, with member companies represented at Chief Executive level."

An earlier version of the group's website described itself as "the only international body working on a worldwide basis on behalf of the coal industry."

Name changes
The WCA was founded in September 1985 as The International Coal Development Institute. In 1988 the name was changed to World Coal Institute in 1988 and World Coal Association in 2010.

Objectives
On its website the WCI stated, in a May 2008 version of its website which is no longer available online, that its objectives were to:


 * "Deepen and broaden understanding amongst policy makers and key stakeholders of the positive role of coal in addressing global warming, widespread poverty in developing countries, and energy security."
 * "Assist in the creation of a political climate supportive of action by governments to include:
 * -Carbon capture & storage (CCS) in climate mitigation strategies and plans;
 * -Clean coal technologies (CCT) in environmental strategies;
 * -Coal to liquids technologies (CTL), with CCS, in energy security considerations; and
 * -Coal in national and regional energy portfolios.


 * "Inform and educate communities of the benefits of coal, the contribution that can be made through CCS and CCT, and the constructive role played by the coal industry in improving its environmental performance, and strengthening social and economic development."
 * "Support improved performance in mine safety globally."

The current version of the group's website states that:


 * "The coal industry, including both internationally traded and domestic coal, needs to present a united front to the challenges it faces this decade and beyond. The orthodoxy that views coal only as a CO2 emitter - without regard to its role in economic and social development, essential to electricity generation and steel manufacture - may be at a turning point. However, the industry needs to cooperate to ensure that this turning point occurs. For that reason, the WCA has adopted a forward looking strategy that aims to position:
 * coal as a strategic resource that is widely recognised as essential for a modern quality of life, a key contributor to sustainable development, and an essential element in enhanced energy security; and
 * the coal industry as a progressive industry that is recognised as committed to technological innovation and improved environmental outcomes within the context of a balanced and responsible energy mix."

March 26, 2009: DC Rising Tide disrupts CTL conference in Washington, DC
Activists with DC Rising Tide interrupted an industry conference to denounce coal-to-liquids technologies. The protesters stood in the audience and gave loud speeches refuting the statements of executives from Chevron, CONSOL Energy, World Coal Institute, and World Petroleum Council. Displaying banners including "Coal kills" and "Renewable energy now," the activists called for an end to fossil fuels and for adoption of clean, renewable energy sources.

Members
WCI has both member companies and member trade associations which, as of May 2008, are :

Member Companies

 * Adaro
 * Anglo Coal
 * Arch Coal
 * BHP Billiton
 * BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance
 * Carbones de Zulia
 * Cerrejon
 * Coal India
 * Consol Energy
 * Glencore
 * Joy Mining Machinery
 * Mistubishi Development
 * Rio Tinto
 * Solid Energy
 * Store Norske
 * Total
 * Xstrata Coal

Member Trade Associations

 * Associação Brasileira do Carvão Mineral Brazil
 * Association of British Mining Equipment Companies
 * Associazione Generale Operatori Carboni Italy
 * Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia Colombia
 * Australian Coal Association
 * Coal Association of Canada
 * CoalImp, the Association of UK Coal Importers
 * CoalPro, the Confederation of UK Coal Producers
 * Coal Association of New Zealand
 * Gesamtverband Steinkohle Germany
 * Indonesian Coal Mining Association
 * Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO)
 * National Mining Association US
 * PhilCoal Philippines
 * Shaanxi Coalfields Geological Bureau
 * Svenska Kolinstitutet Sweden
 * UCG Partnership

Contact Details
5th Floor, Heddon House 149 - 151 Regent Street London W1B 4JD United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 207 851 0052 Email: info AT worldcoal.org Website: http://www.worldcoal.org

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * Carbon Capture and Storage
 * Clean Development Mechanism and Carbon Capture and Storage
 * Clean coal
 * Mining industry
 * Chris Rawlings - former director
 * Preston Chiaro
 * Bob Flew - former chair

External resources

 * World Coal Institute, "Securing the Future: Financing Carbon Ca[pture and Storage in a Post-2012 World", World Coal Institute, November 2009.