|
The first drilling for recovery of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) gas started this week at Moonidih mine, Jharia Coalfields of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) in Jharkhand. Drilling at another mine at Sudamdih will start soon. Methane gas produced from these two mines will be used in the power plant at Moonidih mine and in dumpers of BCCL.
The Rs. 92.43 crore CBM recovery project of the Union Coal Ministry is being financed by UNDP, Global Environment Fund and the Government of India. The Moonidih project involves drilling of seven wells of 300 meters to 1,000 meters depth. It will be implemented in three stages to reach daily production of 36,000 cubic meters per day, which is expected to give a revenue of Rs.2,16,000/- per day at the present selling price of Rs. 6,000/- per 1,000 cubic meters of CBM. The Sudamdih project is expected to produce 21,000 cubic meters of CBM per day.
The CBM project will strengthen the knowledge base of institutions like BCCL, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), Ranchi, and Central Mining Research Institute at Dhanbad. It will promote indigenous CBM technology, demonstrate utilization of gas produced in power generation and help achieve self-sufficiency in methane gas production. The project aims at developing an action plan for CBM application and setting up a CBM clearing house at CMPDI.
The benefits of CBM recovery include reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, improving the health and safety of underground miners and promoting indigenous enterprises engaged in recovery, transportation and use of CBM.
DS/SCH
|
