The Hindu Business Line : Coal India invites parties for methane recovery

Kolkata, Aug. 3 After coal bed methane, it is time for coal mine methane (CMM) and abandoned mine methane (AMM) to emerge as the new sources of energy. Methane, a primary constituent of natural gas though, is considered a safety hazard for mining of coal. It also leads to underground mine fires.

To make the future mining activity – especially underground mining - safe and curb the release of methane - a potent greenhouse gas – to the atmosphere, Coal India Ltd (CIL) has invited interested parties for recovery of methane from existing or abandoned mines for gainful usage.

The areas identified for such CMM -AMM activity are located in the coalfields of Jharia under command area of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd; Ranigunj under Eastern Coalfields Ltd; East and West Bokaro and South Karanpura under Central Coalfields Ltd covering West Bengal and Bihar.

All the areas are witnessing coal mining activity from its earliest days in India and host large number of underground mines, both active and abandoned. These areas are also known for having the largest quantity of high rank coal in the country. Raniganj has the largest coal mining area of 1,550 square km followed by the rest.

According to available information, CMM contributes approximately eight per cent of the total methane emissions resulting from human activities. In 2000, worldwide CMM emissions totalled 120 million tonnes of carbon equivalent (mtce) or about 30.8 billion cubic metre (BCM). The emissions are expected to go up to 153 (mtce) or 39.3 bcm in 2020.

India is the third largest producer of coal (after China and the US) in the world with present production of 430 million tonnes and is considered a major source of CMM. However, in the absence of a recovery mechanism, coal companies currently release methane trapped between coal seams to the atmosphere causing potential damage to the ozone layer.

While detailed figures are not available according to sources, methane trapped in existing underground mines of ECL and BCCL may be adequate for generation of 4-5 MW captive power on an average. The project, if implemented, may also help the coal companies in carbon trading.