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International News
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2009 International News
July 10, 2009 – ADB Invitation for Bids on CMM Development Project in China
On 25 June 2009 the Asian Development Bank (ADB) put out an invitation for bids on its Coal Mine Methane (CMM) Development Project in the People’s Republic of China (Loan No. 2146).
There are three components to the ADB project located in Jincheng, Shanxi Province:
- Coalbed methane (CBM) and CMM production for a 120 MW power plant;
- CMM transmission and distribution for consumers in the Jincheng area; and
- Institutional strengthening and capacity building.
The deadline for bids is 7 August 2009.
For additional information, please visit: http://www.adb.org/Business/Opportunities/not/prc/prc2146f.asp
June 17, 2009 – President Yushchenko Signed into Law Ukraine Coal Mine Methane Legislation.
According to Interfax-Ukraine, the profit of Ukrainian enterprises obtained from the production and use of coal deposit gas (methane) will be exempt from taxation January 1, 2010 through January 1, 2020. The respective law "On gas (methane) from coal deposits" was signed by Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko on Tuesday June 16, 2009, reads a posting on the presidential Web site.
The funds raised under this measure will be used to increase production volumes and improve the material and technical base related to the production and use of methane from coal deposits. According to the law, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission is authorized to set limit prices for methane if its production is funded from the state budget.
The government plans to grant state support and guarantees to the producers and suppliers of energy from coal deposit methane. In addition, the law introduces an 81st type of licensing – for designing, technical servicing, building of new and reconstruction of operating systems for coal deposit gas production and a 43rd type of compulsory insurance – of property risks of the user of resources during exploratory work and the commercial production and use of coal deposit gas.
June 5, 2009 – China Reduction of Methane Emissions Feasibility Study Finalized
An EPA-funded technical and economic feasibility study of the potential to develop a large methane emissions reduction project in southwest China is now available on our website at: http://www.epa.gov/cmop/international/china.html.
Performed by Raven Ridge Resources, the study was a year-long effort requiring close work with the owners and operators of the Songzao coal mines. Presently, CMM is drained and used at some of the Songzao mines and by nearby farmers, but most is released to the atmosphere.
The Songzao Coal and Electricity Company (SCEC), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chongqing Energy and Investment Group (CQEIG), operates the mines located within the coal basin along the boundary between the Chongqing Municipality and Guizhou Province. CQEIG requested EPA’s assistance in developing a bankable feasibility study that would examine two options for utilization of the methane: 1) Using the gas to fuel distributed power projects sited at each of the mines; or, 2) Connecting the mines to a centralized collection and storage system feeding CMM to a purification and liquefaction plant producing LNG.
Through detailed analysis that incorporated technical, economic, market and government policy considerations, the study team concluded that the best option was to join the gas drainage facilities in the northern part of the basin together to supply a LNG production facility and install CMM-fueled power generation facilities at the two remaining facilities in the south.
The project, now under consideration by planning authorities in China, could result in the use of up to 460 million cubic meters of medium quality coal mine methane (CMM) and emission reductions of 2.6 million tonnes CO2e per annum.
For more information on CMOP China Activities, go to: http://www.epa.gov/cmop/international/china.html
May 7, 2009 – WasteTech 2009, May 26-27 in Moscow, Russia
As a feature of WasteTech 2009, The Federal Agency for Science and Innovation of the Russian Federation (FASI), with participation and support from the Methane to Markets Partnership, is organizing a conference on the commercial use of non-traditional methane resources. The event will be held at the International Exhibition Center “Crocus-Expo” on May 26-27, in Moscow, Russia. The conference will feature a panel on coalbed methane recovery/utilization and will highlight successful international methane recovery/utilization projects.
For more information, go to http://www.incot.ru/
March 26, 2009 - Ukraine and Japan Cooperate on New Energy and Industrial Technologies
The governments of Ukraine and Japan have agreed to cooperate in the area of new energy and industrial technologies and the introduction of green investments. Respective documents have been signed in Kyiv today. Guidance for the introduction of a green investment scheme between the Government of Ukraine and Japan was inked. It was signed by the head of the National Agency for Ecological Investments of Ukraine, Ihor Lupaltsov, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine, Tadashi Idzava.
In addition, the National Agency for Ecological Investments of Ukraine and New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan finalized a Cooperation Agreement. The document was signed by head of National Agency for Ecological Investments of Ukraine, Ihor Lupaltsov, and chairman of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Seiji Murata.
Under the concluded documents, Ukraine, in compliance with Kyoto Protocol, gives to Japan 30 million units of emission quotas for substances which pollute the atmosphere. In total, Ukraine has a quota of 4.5 bill. units. According to the calculations, by 2012 Ukraine will have used for its own needs a total of 2.8 bill. units, while 450 mill. units will be sold to other countries.
For more information, go to http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/publish/printable_article?art_id=201283115
March 19, 2009 - International Energy Agency publishes information paper on Coal Mine Methane in China
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published an Information Paper entitled Coal Mine Methane in China: A Budding Asset with the Potential to Bloom. The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine policies, technologies, and practices in China for coal mine methane (CMM) recovery and use, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities of medium- and smaller-sized coal mines. The paper presents an assessment of technology, policy, and financial issues relating to CMM in China based on interviews conducted at coal mines in Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces, as well as with other key stakeholders at the local, provincial, national, and international level. The report finds that while China has made substantial progress in the CMM sector, there is great additional potential for CMM recovery and use.
This paper, developed with funding from US EPA, is one of a series of IEA Information Papers designed to highlight specific opportunities for cost-effective reductions from oil and natural gas facilities, coal mines, and landfills, with the aim of increasing methane recovery and utilization globally.
The white paper is available free on the IEA Web site: http://www.iea.org/Textbase/publications/free_new_Desc.asp?PUBS_ID=2085
March 5, 2009 - Successful Coal Mine Methane Recovery & Utilization workshop held in Jincheng, Shanxi Province, China
A Conference on Recovery and Utilization of Coal Mine Methane was held from February 24 – 27, 2009, in Jincheng, Shanxi Province, China. The conference was organized by the Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs, a US-based NGO and the recipient of a grant under the Methane to Markets Partnership. The meeting was hosted by the Jincheng municipal government and the Shanxi provincial government. The four-day event featured technical and policy presentations on all aspects of coal mine methane recovery and utilization that are applicable to the Shanxi province including presenters from the US, China, Australia, and Sweden. The event also included a roundtable discussion and a site visit to the Sihe Mine, site of the world’s largest CMM to power generation facility (120 MW capacity) as well as facilities for the conversion of coalbed methane to compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The participants expressed a desire to continue using this forum for further US-Chinese dialogue on these issues and it is likely that a delegation from Jincheng mining group and city will visit the United States later in 2009.
Proceedings from the workshop will be posted on the Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs Web site at http://www.jhcga.org/.
February 26, 2009 - Coal Mine Methane Policy News from Ukraine
Ukraine has undertaken several important policy steps to promote the capture and use of coal mine methane. On September 25, 2008, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a law on green electricity tariffs. The law provides incentives for electricity produced from alternative sources like coal mine methane (CMM). It guarantees access to the grid for such power facilities, and it provides a special tariff for alternative power that is about twice the normal wholesale power price. When implemented, this law should help attract investment to several proposed coal mine methane power projects in Ukraine. The National Electricity Regulatory Commission must set the specific tariff for each approved type of alternative energy for the law to become effective.
Ukraine’s Parliament also passed the first reading of the Law on Gas (Methane) from Coal Beds. The Parliament plans to put the law up for a second and final vote in the spring of 2009. The draft law would not allow new mines to begin operating unless they brought concentrations of methane down to acceptable levels. Existing mines would also face restrictions on releasing methane to the atmosphere. In addition, the draft law clarifies ownership issues, making it easier for third parties to obtain licenses to use vented coal mine methane. Finally, it clarifies that CMM owners can sell their gas into the natural gas transmission system when the gas meets system requirements.
USEPA and the Ukrainian Parliament plan to hold a seminar on CMM policy in Kiev early April. The seminar will provide an opportunity to discuss the Law on Gas (Methane) from Coal Beds, and to provide a venue where project developers, mine owners and government officials can discuss implementation issues. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and ARENA-ECO are organizing this event. For more information, contact Mykola Raptsun, President, ARENA-ECO at email: mraptsun@arena-eco.com.
January 15, 2009 - Methane to Markets Meeting in Monterrey, Mexico – Revised agenda posted
A Methane to Markets Partnership Meeting will take place on Tuesday - Thursday, 27-29 January 2009, in Monterrey, Mexico. This meeting will include site tours and sector-specific workshops, as well as networking opportunities. We are very grateful to Mexico's Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) and the State Government of Nuevo Leon for hosting this meeting.
Revised agendas now available online! http://www.methanetomarkets.org/events/2009/all/all-27jan09.htm
This event will include:
- Optional sector site tours (all day) and Steering Committee Meeting (afternoon) on Tuesday, 27 January
- Opening plenary session, Steering Committee Meeting (continued), and sector-specific workshops on Wednesday, 28 January
- Closing Plenary and Subcommittee Meetings on Thursday, 29 January
We hope that you can join us for this informative event – please register soon!
January 8, 2009 - India Seeks Assistance with Coal Mine Methane Development
The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) in Ranchi, India is pursuing development of coal mine methane (CMM) in the command areas of Coal India Ltd. (CIL). Technical issues, such as resource assessment in de-stressed conditions and techno-economic evaluation of the project areas, need to be addressed. To overcome these problems, CMPDI has floated a tender notice to hire a suitable consultancy firm from India or abroad. Details of the tender are available on the CMPDI web sites (http://www.cmpdi.co.in and http://www.cmpdi.gov.in). The deadline to respond is February 2, 2009.