CBMC¡äs Trip to the US and Sweden

    As an important mission of the China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse
 (CBMC), director Mr. Sun Maoyuan and deputy director Mr. Huang Shengc
hu traveled to the US and Sweden for working meetings and study tours 
from September 21 to October 9,1996. During their stay in the US, the 
Chinese delegation met with Ms. Dina Kruger, director of  the Methane 
Energy Office, and Mr. Karl Schultz, manager of the Coalbed Methane Pr
ograms from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). They revie
wed the activities which have been down by the Clearinghouse in the la
st year and developed working schedule for the next fiscal year. The C
learinghouse attributed its achievements to the strong support from th
e USEPA. In particular, both sides enjoyed their successful cooperatio
n in preparation of the joint report REDUCING METHANE EMISSIONS FROM C
OAL MINES IN CHINA: THE POTENTIAL FOR COALBED METHANE DEVELOPMENT. The
y received good commends from home and abroad experts for the report w
hich has been published in Chinese and English. The USEPA will continu
e to provide assistance to the Clearinghouse and places the developmen
t of the economic model for coalbed methane project on the top of the 
Clearinghouse¡äs schedule for the next year, said the manager of the C
oalbed Methane Programe from the USEPA.
    The Chinese experts had a long trip with tight scheduled visits to
 TerraTek Inc., Amoco, ICF, Caterpilar Turbins and other CBM companies
 in the US.
    The delegation continued to fly from the Washington to Sweden. The
y visited the Wartsila Diesel AB, a leading company in producing diese
l engines and gas engines, and gas power generation facilities. The Ch
inese delegation, together with representives from the Swedish company
, had an important meeting with Swedish International Development Agen
cy ( Sida) for a proposed CBM fired power generation demonstration pro
ject in China. The sida would provide financial support for the propos
ed project because the project benefits environmental protection and m
eets the basic principles set by the Sida. 
The delegation from China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse has a meeting 
with Swedish International Development Agency in Stockholm in October 
1996 for a proposed coalbed methane fired power generation demonstrati
on project in China.