China Aims to Double CBM Output

China intends to double coal-bed methane (CBM) production to 20-24 billion cubic meters by 2015, the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan period, according to a draft plan being drawn up by the National Energy Administration.

The target output will include 10-11 billion cubic meters via surface mining and 11-13 billion cubic meters via underground drainage, according to the plan.

Presently, CBM output via these two ways totaled 7.5 billion cubic meters, less than 10% of which takes place of the natural gas, relevant analysts said.

In the next five years, China would witness a shortfall of 160 billion cubic meters natural gas, according to estimation.

Source: China Mining