The National Energy Administration (NEA) stated recently that China’s coal-bed methane output will reach 30 billion cubic metres in 2015. The country aims to add 1 trillion cubic metres of coal-bed methane to its reserves over the next four years and build methane production bases in Qinshui Basin in Shanxi province and Ordos Basin in Inner Mongolia autonomous region, according to a coal-bed methane development program published by the NEA. China will invest 116.6 billion yuan in coal-bed methane production over the next four years, and establish 13 pipelines with a capacity of 12 billion cubic metres, according to the program.

China has stepped up its efforts to boost development of renewable and unconventional energy resources in recent years to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. The country plans to increase the coal-bed methane production subsidy to 0.4 to 0.5 yuan per cubic metre from 0.3 yuan per cubic metre, said Wei Pengyuan, deputy head of the NEA’s coal department. The country’s methane resources are estimated at 37 trillion cubic metres, ranking third in the world. Meanwhile, China is targeting at least a 40% reduction in coal mine gas leak accidents and their death tolls by 2015, according to the program.