Background

The Chinese government puts great stress on CBM/CMM development, and has listed it into the national energy development programme in the "Tenth-Five-Year Plan". By 2004, more than 200 coal mines in China have set up underground CMM drainage and transportation systems, with the annual drainage of 1.5 billion m³, and a number of CMM power generation projects have been set up. 

Coalbed methane development is in rapid progress. Six foreign companies have carried out 11 CBM development projects in China, with the total investment of US$76 million. Thirty CBM wells have successfully reached the designed productions in Shanxi Jincheng Anthracite Mining Group Co., Ltd. with the daily production of about 3600 m³, and have begun supplying coalbed methane to the compression station. Another seventy wells are now under construction. 

On February 23, 2004, a decision was made by State Council to enhance coal mine gas control and combine it with CMM development and utilizaton for the purpose of turning the waste to the useful. Therefore, the strategic idea, "Utilization for Drainage, Drainage for Safety", has formed. The government and coal companies will increase investment in coal mine gas drainage and utilization. The coal mine gas drainage and utilization is now entering a brand-new development stage. 

Last November the "International Methane to Markets Partnership" Ministerial Meeting was held in Washington DC. Fourteen member countries of "International Methane to Market Partnership" signed the framework document, clarifying the objectives, organizational structure and main functions. During the Regional Workshop, many important issues will be discussed to accelerate the "Methane to Markets Partnership" in China.