According to Shanxi officially, dispute of extraction rights between Mine extraction rights has just settled and Shanxi has opportunities to push the usage of CBM.
Low usage amount and low usage rate occurs when it comes to coalbed methane (CBM) in China. Although it is the 3rd largest storage of CBM in the world with the storage amount reaching 360 trillion cubic meters with which could produce the same amount of power that the Three Gorges Dam project could provide if continuously operated for 8000 years, only about 478 billion cubic meters of CBM have been used in China till the end of 2015 accumulatively. This is due to the complexity of its storage and the existing CBM industry system that need further improvements.
Extraction and usage of CBM is important because it is a kind of source of clean energy and is the culprit of gas explosion of coalbed. Usage of CBM could help reduce air pollution, reduce GHGs emission, increase energy provision and lower safety risk for people.
Shanxi’s CBM storage tops in China with the amount above 83 trillion cubic meter, around one third of total CBM storage. In 2014 CBM output in Shanxi was 35 million cubic meters, taking up 95% of total CBM output in China that year and if this amount of CBM is all used to take the place of fossil fuels, it could help reduce SO2 emission by 75,000 tons, NOx 26,000 tons, smoke and dust 123,000 tons, which on total could reduce 10% of air pollutant in 2014. In fact, Shanxi might play an important role in providing clean energy for Jing-jin-ji region to tackle with haze.
In order to further develop CBM extraction and usage, differentiated subsidy and ladder-like subsidy is indispensable to stimulate the industry. Multiple usage of CBM should also be explored, which will increase the value of CBM.
The above suggestions were brought up during Shanxi Air Quality Management Pilot Project Seminar held on October 18th and 19th.
The Air Quality Management Pilot Project is a local pilot project. It is focused on diagnosing local air quality and management problem, helping air quality management capacity build up, and technical support on making air quality measures and their implementation. It is supported by Energy Foundation and conducted by Innovation Center for Clean-air Solutions (Secretariat for CAAC) and the alliance’s partners.
