People’s Republic of China: Coal Mine Methane Development Project

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) produced about 1.7 billion tons of coal in 2003. Coal mining releases methane, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Methane is about 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The PRC coal mines have been releasing more than 6 billion cubic meters (m3) of methane each year, and this amount is expected to increase. Methane is highly explosive and needs to be removed during underground coal mining operations to keep working conditions in the mine safe. Each year, at least 7,000 miners die from underground accidents mainly caused by methane explosions.

Increasing the removal and capture of methane, and using it as a clean source of energy was expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the use of clean fuel (methane in place of coal), improve air quality, and make coal mines more safe and efficient. At project appraisal, the technologies required for capturing coal mine methane and coal bed methane were not yet used in the PRC; these had yet to be proven through a demonstration project.

This report validates the completion report’s assessment of the program, which aimed to use coal mine methane and coal bed methane to generate power and supply coal mine methane for residential, commercial, and industrial consumers in People’s Republic of China. IED overall assessment: Successful.