Coal Sector

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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Brainstorming Session Notes on Solutions to the Top Barriers to Coal Mine Methane Project Development

This document summarizes feedback that was obtained during the brainstorming session held at the 32nd GMI Coal Mines Subcommittee meeting on 22 March 2023. Participants consisted of GMI Delegates, GMI Project Network members, and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Group of Experts on CMM. The brainstorming session aimed to identify approaches and solutions to the three CMM project barriers that were ranked as being the most relevant.

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.