A brief overview of CBM Development in India

Abstract

Usage of coal as a source of clean energy is a priority area for Govt. of India to meet the overall objective of a low carbonpath; hence Clean Coal Technology (CCT) is being pursued under a National Mission Program. The CCT is a broader termthat includes all the technologies which can help reduce emissions during various stages of the coal cycle.Exploration andproduction of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) and its commercial utilization also comes under a larger umbrella of CCT. Studiesshow that the CBM reserves in Gondwana basin of India hold significant prospects to ensure sustainable energy supplyin the future, and provide a potential option for CO2 sequestration. According to the DGH, prognosticated CBM resourcesare about 92 TCF in 12 states of India and the commercial production of CBM in India has already commenced w.e.f. July2007 in Raniganj (South) block in West Bengal. In this paper, we present a brief overview of development of Coal BedMethane (CBM) and Coal Mine Methane (CMM) in India.