Dou Qingfeng, 
Director China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse

Closing Remarks at the Workshop

Dou Qingfeng, Director
China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The two-day International Workshop on Investment Opportunities in Coal Mine Methane Projects in China is coming to an end. Administrator Zhang Baoming of the State Administration of Coal Industry (SACI), Robert Armstrong of the U.S. Embassy, Karl Schultz of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and more than 110 representatives from the World Bank, U.S., United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Japan, and various Chinese governmental offices and companies attended this workshop. 

During the opening ceremony, Administrator Zhang Baoming of the SACI made an important speech. He stressed the importance of coal mine methane development for the coal industry, and gave high remarks 

to the accomplishments of the China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse, which was jointly established by the U.S.EPA and SACI. Robert Armstrong of the U.S. Embassy emphasized that Sino-U.S. environmental cooperation is one of the most effective cooperative projects, and Sino-U.S. environmental and energy cooperation have a broad future. Deputy Director Wang Dongguang of the China State Development and Planning Commission pointed out treating coal mine methane development as a new foundation industry gives sustainable energy development and atmospheric environmental protection realistic meaning.

The workshop was divided into three sections: coal mine methane investment prospects; coal mine methane industry development strategy and technology application; and key coal mine methane projects. More than 20 representatives made excellent presentations. Representatives discussed and exchanged ideas on international cooperation of coal mine methane projects, financing mechanisms, investment opportunities of key coal mine methane projects, advanced coal mine methane recovery and utilization technologies, and Jincheng coal mine methane project data package.

During the workshop, Caterpillar China Ltd. and Yangquan Coal Group, and Sierra Power Products China and Jincheng Coal Group exchanged talks on coal mine methane power generation projects. They established the initial cooperation intent on power generation projects, and set a good foundation for further cooperation.

Under the joint support of SAIC and U.S.EPA and the hard work of the workshop representatives, the workshop organized by the China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse has fulfilled its goals and achieved great success. 

The workshop will push forward China's coal mine methane development and utilization, and greatly influence international financial and technological cooperation of coal mine methane development. I believe, under the join effort of the government, investors, and project owners, China coal mine methane development and utilization will achieve fast development.

Lastly, let me represent the sponsoring organization, the China Coal Information Institute and the China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse, to express sincere thanks to all the representatives and staff. We hope to keep in touch and work with everyone.

Now I announce that the workshop is closed. Thank you, everyone.