Harnesing 10% of coal bed methane reserves can cut India’s energy import bill by $2 billion: Experts – EQ Mag
New Delhi: Experts said India could cut its energy import bill by $2 billion if the country harnesses 10 per cent of its 2,600 billion cubic meters of coal bed methane reserves.
This assumes significance considering India’s coal production hit a record high during the last financial year and plans to further increase it. Experts believe that the collective efforts of the industry in utilizing Coal Bed Methane (CBM) can help the country save over USD 2 billion on the import bill in the near future.
They say that India has an estimated coal bed methane reserve of 2600 billion cubic metres.
“India touched a record-high growth in coal production of over 778.19 million tonnes in the year 2022-23 registering a record growth in coal production. The plan is to increase the production to over one billion tonnes by 2025-26. Therefore ,we should collectively harness and utilize coal bed methane which in turn will help in reducing emissions and also boost India’s energy security.Even if the industry can exploit around 10 per cent reserves we Could save more than $2 billion by cutting oil imports.” said JS Sharma, head of the International Center for Climate and Sustainability Action Foundation (ICCSA).
Sharma said that if we are able to tap more CBM reserves then the savings would be more.
Through ICSSA we are trying to create awareness about the potential of methane and have conducted workshops for the oil & gas, agriculture and livestock sectors.
He said there are plans to engage companies related to coal, transportation and waste management to share information on methane capture in the future.
Rakesh Kumar, Officer on Special Duty at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and an advisor to ICSSA, said, “The increase in coal production is directly proportional to the release of methane from mining activities. While India is majorly dependent on coal production, open-cast mines, may need to adopt deep mining of coal seams for increased production. If so, use of CMM can be one of the potential energy sources and also have climate mitigation co-benefits It is possible
More than 56 percent of India’s primary electricity generation is supplied by coal, and this number is expected to grow with India’s growing population and energy needs.
Kumar said that while India is moving towards building energy security by increasing energy production, methane sequestration and utilization from coal mining activity can provide mutual benefits.
The estimated CBM resources in the country are about 2600 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) in 12 states of India.
To leverage the country’s CBM potential, the government implemented a CBM policy in 1997, mandating the exploration and use of CBM (Natural Gas).
The use of coal mine methane has the potential to benefit India by reducing emissions and increasing household energy security. Methane is the primary component of natural gas, which is responsible for the warming of the Earth. The concentration of methane (CH4) in the atmosphere has more than doubled since pre-industrial times.
CH4 is the second leading cause of climate change after carbon dioxide, rising to 1.5°C or 2°C.
Alternative fuels like Coal Bed Methane, Coal Mine Methane and alternative use of coal from coal to chemicals are the key areas of the government.
Accordingly, some companies have placed special emphasis on the implementation of clean coal technology across their business value chain.
Kumar said methane emissions from Indian coal mines are estimated to account for 45 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 equivalent emissions over 20 years.
This increase in coal bed methane production has been fueled by government efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote clean energy.
Dr Kumar said the government’s push for renewable energy, as well as initiatives such as the National Clean Energy Fund, can help India achieve its carbon neutrality target.
Source: PTI
