Shanxi Province Achieves Record Coal-Bed Methane Output in 2024
North China's coal-rich Shanxi Province has achieved a record coal-bed methane (CBM) output of 13.4 billion cubic meters in 2024, marking an 18.9 percent increase year-on-year, according to the provincial statistics bureau.
CBM, an unconventional natural gas primarily composed of methane, is a byproduct of coal production and historically considered a major cause of fatalities in coal mine accidents due to its explosive nature when not properly managed.
With advancements in technology, CBM can now be stably extracted and utilized as a clean energy source. Shanxi Province has been at the forefront of large-scale exploration and utilization of CBM, effectively reducing environmental pollution by preventing its discharge into the atmosphere and enhancing mine safety by reducing the risk of gas explosions.
\"In the next stage, Shanxi will take multiple measures to boost CBM storage and production, and vigorously promote CBM development,\" said Mao Xiaowen, deputy director of the Shanxi Energy Bureau.
Shanxi boasts abundant CBM resources, with approximately 8.31 trillion cubic meters of proven reserves located underground within a depth of 2,000 meters, accounting for nearly one-third of China's total CBM reserves. Notably, the province's CBM output in 2024 represented 80.6 percent of the nation's total, as revealed by the provincial energy bureau.
In addition to its CBM achievements, Shanxi's raw coal output reached 1.27 billion tonnes last year, making up around 26.7 percent of the national output, according to the provincial statistics bureau.
The significant increase in CBM production underscores Shanxi Province's commitment to transforming traditional energy industries and promoting sustainable development. By harnessing CBM as a clean energy source, Shanxi is contributing to China's broader goals of reducing emissions and ensuring energy security.
Reference(s):
N China's Shanxi Province sees record 2024 coal-bed methane output
cgtn.com
