Emissions from Coal Mining in China

China is the world's largest coal producer and largest source of methane emissions from coal mines (660 MtCO₂e in 2020). An overview of China's coal mining history and current methane recovery and use efforts can be found in the Global Methane Initiative Coal Mine Methane Country Profile: China (June 2020) (pdf) (1,543 KB).

Resources

In support of GMI, EPA has completed nearly 30 full-scale and pre-feasibility studies of CMM recovery and utilization projects at Chinese coal mines. The studies assess the technical and economic viability of implementing methane recovery and utilization projects, with detailed findings and project implementation recommendations compiled in comprehensive final reports, including the following (available on the GMI website):

• Best Practice Guidance for Effective Management of Coal Mine Methane at National Level: Monitoring, Reporting, Verification and Mitigation (Chinese)
• Conducting Pre-Feasibility Studies for Coal Mine Methane Projects Training (Chinese)
• Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Recovery and Use from Abandoned Mines (Chinese)
• Pre-Feasibility Study for Methane Drainage and Utilization at the TengHui Coal Mine, Shanxi Province, China (March 2019)

  • This document is also available in Chinese (March 2019)

• Pre-Feasibility Study for Methane Drainage and Utilization at the Liulong Coal Mine, Liuzhi District Liupanshui, Guizhou Province, China (September 2016)

  • This document is also available in Chinese (September 2016)

• Energy Markets in China and the Outlook for CMM Project Development in Anhui, Chongqing, Henan, Inner Mongolia, and Guizhou Provinces (April 2015) (pdf) (8.4 MB)
• Pre-Feasibility Study for Coal Mine Methane Capture and Utilization at the Mahui and Pingshang Mines (April 2015)
• Pre-feasibility Study for Coal Mine Methane Recovery and Utilization at Mopanshan Mine, Guizhou Province, China (December 2014)
  • This document is also available in Chinese (December 2014)
• Pre-feasibility Study for Fuhong Coal Mine, Guizhou Province (March 2013) (pdf) (29.5 MB)
  • The Pre-feasibility Study for Fuhong Coal Mine is also available in Chinese (March 2013) (pdf) (17.7 MB)
• Pre-feasibility Study for Yanjing Coal Mine, Chongqing Municipality (March 2013) (pdf) (31.9 MB)
  • The Pre-feasibility Study for Yanjing Coal Mine is also available in Chinese (March 2013) (pdf) (32.5 MB)
• Feasibility Study for CMM Drainage and Utilization: Inner Mongolia Tai Xi Group Mines (December 2011)
• Virginia Tech's Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research Report: A Regional Handbook for Coalbed Methane Degasification in the Southern Shanxi Province, China (August 2011) (pdf) (4.5 MB)
• Pre-feasibility Study for Qinlong Coal Mine, Guizhou Province (December 2011) (pdf) (1,445 KB)
  • The Pre-feasibility Study for Qinlong Coal Mine is also available in Chinese (December 2011) (pdf) (2.1 MB)
• Pre-feasibility Study for Zhongling Coal Mine, Guizhou Province (December 2011) (pdf) (1,757 KB)
  • The Pre-feasibility Study for Zhongling Coal Mine is also available in Chinese (December 2011) (pdf) ​​​​​​(1,681 KB)