China to gas up energy mix with clean coalbed methane

BEIJING - China expects to increase its proved-coalbed methane reserves by 420 billion cubic meters during the 2016-2020 period, the National Energy Administration (NEA) said.

The country seeks to extract 24 billion cubic meters of the clean energy and own three industrialization bases in 2020, according to a development plan released by the NEA on Friday.

The target would mean that coalbed methane accounted for 13 percent of the country's natural gas output by 2020. Tapping the resource will boost colliery safety, increase clean energy supply and cut greenhouse gas emissions, the NEA said.

Some 18 billion cubic meters were extracted last year, with 47 percent utilized, this rate will be lifted over 66 percent, the plan predicted.

By 2020, deaths in colliery gas accidents will be reduced by at least 15 percent compared with 2015, said the NEA. A total of 171 people were killed in 45 coal mine gas accidents last year.

To support the country's coalbed gas development and gas management in coal mines, China will exempt certain equipment and parts for coalbed gas exploration and development from import tariffs and VAT during the 2016-2020 period, the Ministry of Finance said Thursday.

China's coalbed gas reserves are estimated at 36.8 trillion cubic meters, ranking as the third largest in the world after Russia and Canada.