Coal has been the major resource for the Mining industry in the US, accounting for about 42 percent of the total value of the mining output in 2011. The emphasis on promoting renewable energy by increasing tax credits for wind and solar power generation has affected coal-based power generation.
About 49 GW of coal-fired capacity is expected to be retired between 2015 and 2020, because of environmental constraints and low efficiency coupled with the price drop of gas. A decline in coal-fired plants would lead to reduced demand for coal mining, affecting the Water and Waste Water Market in the US Coal Mining industry.
This challenge is expected to have a medium impact initially, followed by a higher impact in the long term with increased emphasis on demoting coal mining in the US.
How Can Waste Water Management Improve the Coal Mining Industry?
Water scarcity is a major problem in many areas where natural resources are abundant, creating a necessity for mining companies to consider recycling technologies for after-treatment solutions for usable water.
The Americas and Africa house some of the major mining infrastructures of the world, operating at locations with scarce water bodies in the vicinity. While water-related conflicts can occur in any water-stressed region, such issues may also intensify because of the limited water and waste water management infrastructure and strict water-related government regulations. This has resulted in the adoption of waste water management techniques to refine and reuse the available water.
Therefore, the mining operations carried out in water-stressed regions have provided significant opportunities to both the equipment and service providers in the Global Water and Waste Water Market in the Mining Industry.
Expansion in Mining Industry
Rising demand for mineral-based products is expected to increase the overall industry impact on water resources. The worldwide demand for mineral-based products is expected to continue increasing, mainly because of the ongoing expansion of mining activities in developing countries.
The scale of future mining expansion worldwide will have a significant impact on the Water and Waste Water Treatment market for the management of large quantities of water consumption, recycling and to prevent contamination of local water bodies. This will in turn fuel the demand for water and waste water equipment and services in the Mining industry.
The strongest growth is expected to register from the newly advanced economies of the BRIC countries, Chile, and South Africa and continue with Australia, the US, and Canada because of the expansion of advanced water and waste water facilities and improvement of existing facilities for the purpose of increasing water reuse and desalination practices.
