Coal Sector

The Coal Mines Subcommittee focuses on supporting the identification and deployment of practical and cost-effective methane mitigation technologies and practices to reduce or eliminate emissions from coal mines. This is achieved by encouraging collaboration among Partner Countries, Subcommittee members, and Project Network members to build capacity, develop strategies and markets, and remove technical and non-technical barriers to methane mitigation project development. Ultimately, such collaboration can increase environmental quality, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen the economy via the additional methane brought to market.

Upcoming Events

GMI Coal Mines Subcommittee Meeting, 21-22 March 2023

21–22 March 2023, Geneva, Switzerland

Quick Links

The 32nd Coal Mines Subcommittee meeting will be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland in conjunction with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) 18th Session of the Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane and Just Transition. The Coal Mines Subcommittee Meeting will take place over two days:
  • In-person only on Tuesday, 21 March 2023
  • Hybrid (in-person and online) on Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Additional Registration Requirements for In-Person Attendees:
  • UNECE Registration for 21 March 2023:  If you are planning to attend the Subcommittee meeting in-person on 21 March 2023, you must complete this registration form for the UNECE Group of Experts meeting to ensure that you are accounted for in the UN system and issued a visitor pass for 21 March 2023.
  • UNECE Registration for 22 March 2023:  If you are planning to attend the Subcommittee meeting in-person on 22 March 2023, you must complete a 2nd UNECE registration form to ensure that you are accounted for in the UN system and issued a visitor pass for 22 March 2023.
There is no registration fee for this event.

Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, 21 March 2023:  5:00 – 5:45 PM CET (UTC +1)
(Tempus Room)

5:00-5:10

Welcome and GMI Coal Mines Subcommittee Co-Chair Updates
Volha Roshchanka, Subcommittee Co-Chair, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

5:10-5:25

GMI Secretariat Updates
Denise Mulholland, GMI Secretariat 

5:25-5:40

Key Take-aways from the Global Methane, Climate and Clean Air Forum
Clark Talkington, Advanced Resources International

5:40-5:45

Review of CMM Project Barriers and Introduction to the Solutions Brainstorming Session 
Volha Roshchanka, Subcommittee Co-Chair, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

 

Wednesday, 22 March 2023:  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CET (UTC +1)
(Room XXV & Virtual)

10:00-10:10 

 

Welcome and Introductions
GMI Coal Mines Subcommittee Co-Chairs

10:10-10:25

Overview of CMM Project Barriers and the Solutions Brainstorming Session
Volha Roshchanka, Subcommittee Co-Chair, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

10:25-11:55 

Brainstorming on Solutions to Top Barriers
Moderator: Volha Roshchanka, Subcommittee Co-Chair, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Notetaker: Clark Talkington, Advanced Resources International

11:55-12:00 

Summary and Adjourn
GMI Coal Mines Subcommittee Co-Chairs

 

Logistical Information

 

Meeting Partner

At its 18th session the Group of Experts will continue its work to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from coal mines through activities that help the recovery and use of methane in order to reduce the risks of explosions in coal mines, mitigate climate change, and support sustainable development. The Group of Experts will also discuss the best strategies for preparing and delivering green transformation of the coal mining regions in accordance with the principles of just transition. Learn more about UNECE.

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26th World Mining Congress

26–29 June 2023, Brisbane, Australia

The World Mining Congress is one of the leading international forums for the global mining and resource industries. The Congress promotes and supports scientific and technical cooperation in the sustainable development of natural mineral and energy resources, and facilitates a world-wide exchange of information regarding best practices and emerging technologies in mining sciences, technologies, economics, mining health and safety, social performance and environmental protection. Individual conference tracks will include decarbonization and environmental sustainability.



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Coal Mines Subcommittee

Subcommittee Co-chairs

Manoj Kumar, Co-Chair
Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI)
India

Volha Roshchanka, Co-Chair
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
United States

Liu Wenge, Co-Chair
China Coal Information Institute (CCII)
China

Subcommittee Members

Representatives from 14 countries participate in the Coal Mines Subcommittee.

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Project Network

Hundreds of Project Network members support methane abatement projects in the coal sector.

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Coal Mines Subcommittee Statement of Purpose
Coal Mines Subcommittee Statement of Purpose

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Recent Resources

Check out these featured resources. For a complete list of available coal resources, including technical documents, presentations, and tools, please visit the resources page.

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Basics of Coal Mine Methane Training (2022)

This training provides basic information about methane that is emitted through coal mining and summarizes potential mitigation options. The following topics are covered in the course:

  • Why is there methane in coal?
  • What are the primary methods of extracting coal?
  • What are the characteristics of methane emissions from coal mines?
  • How is methane captured using mine ventilation and gas drainage?
  • What are the beneficial uses of captured methane?

Conducting Pre-Feasibility Studies for Abandoned Mine Methane Projects Training (2022)

This course introduces principles for assessing the potential of developing projects to mitigate Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM). Determining if an AMM project is feasible requires an assessment of the project’s potential through a pre-feasibility study. Such studies are typically carried out by a project developer, or another third party, in partnership with a government organization. AMM project developers, third parties, mining company personnel, and government officials can all benefit from this training.



Conducting Pre-Feasibility Studies for Coal Mine Methane Projects Training (2021)

The U.S. EPA is developing this training course in support of the GMI and in conjunction with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). This course introduces principles for assessing the potential of developing projects to capture and/or use Coal Mine Methane (CMM). The introduced general approach should be underpinned by mine-specific data and analyses, allowing the principles to be tailored to the unique conditions at each mine. Ideally, such an assessment will lead to project development and implementation.

This training is available in English (2021) and Chinese (2022).

International Coal Mine Methane Projects Database (2021)

This Excel document contains information on over two hundred coal mine methane recovery and utilization projects operating, in development, or planned around the world in both Global Methane Initiative partner and non-partner countries.

Global Methane Emissions from Coal Mining to Continue Growing Even with Declining Coal Production (2020)

Coal mines are one of the largest sources of anthropogenic methane emissions. As the world produces more coal, coal mines get deeper every year, and methane emissions grow with increasing mining depth. Mine operators also abandon old coal mines, which still emit methane into the atmosphere. The U.S. EPA, in collaboration with the Global Methane Initiative and several other organizations, co-authored this paper that presents projections of global methane emissions from coal mining under different coal extraction scenarios and with increasing mining depth through 2100. The study estimates methane emissions from underground and surface coal production while accounting for the increase in mining depth using several new and compiled data sets.

Coal Mine Methane Country Profiles (2020)

This document contains individual, comprehensive profiles that characterize the coal and coal mine methane sectors of 37 countries—29 Global Methane Initiative partners and an additional eight coal-producing nations. In addition, an Introduction section provides additional methane information, summary tables, and country statistics.

Pre-Feasibility Study for Methane Drainage and Utilization at the Casa Blanca Coal Mine (2019)

This pre-feasibility study was completed to determine the feasibility of a coal mine methane (CMM) capture and utilization project at the Casa Blanca Coal Mine in Colombia.

Pre-Feasibility Study for Methane Drainage and Utilization at the Pootkee Colliery, Damodar Valley (2019)

This pre-feasibility study was completed to determine the viability of a CMM drainage project at the Pootkee Colliery. Specifically, the study evaluated the technical and economic viability of utilizing long in-mine horizontal boreholes drilled into Seam XII to drain methane in advance of mining, and to identify end-use options for the drained methane.

Coal Mine Methane Mitigation and Utilization Technologies and Project Profiles (2018)
(also referred to as the Coal Mine Methane Technology Database)

This database provides basic descriptions of several key technologies applicable to coal mine methane recovery and utilization, including each technology’s current status and commercial availability. It is intended to be a living document, which will be periodically updated to remain current. The database is an updated and revised version of the original database compiled by Australia’s Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, on behalf of the Global Methane Initiative.

Methane Mitigation Matters (2015)

Methane is a prevalent manmade greenhouse gas that traps 28 times more heat than carbon dioxide (CO2). Reducing methane emissions by recovering and using methane as a clean energy source offers many benefits for the environment and local communities. This video highlights the many ways that reducing methane can benefit the environment and local communities.

Global Methane Initiative (GMI)
Building global relationships and capacity to act on methane