Katrina underlines the vulnerability of US energy import strategies

摘要

The Shockwaves of Hurricane Katrina will be felt for some time to come in the North American coal industry, already affected by transport and other infrastructural issues, but with greater damage to oil and gas industries forcing up prices, coal may appear a more attractive power generating option. North America's coal producers and transporters have been taking a cold hard look at the destruction brought about by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Although few coal handling facilities were hit by the storm - and those that were suffered only minor damage - navigation on the lower Mississippi river was brought to a halt by shoaling, wrecks and lost navigation aids. Most of the focus is on the Gulf Coast aeas hit by Hurricane Katrina, but low water conditions in the upper Mississippi River have also slowed coal deliveries. The worst conditions according to the US's EIA, were in the Minnesota reaches, which affects agricultural products more than coal, but these water levels feed the declining and already low reaches of the middle Mississippi between St Louis and New Orleans. Coal in that portion of the Mississippi is being moved carefully through a 9ft draught channel.