430F98090 Coalbed Methane Clearinghouses: An Introduction to Information Centers in Russia and China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouses (also known as Coalbed Methane Centers) are contributing invaluably to the promotion of coalbed methane as an alternative energy resource in countries where develop- ment of coalbed methane is in its earliest stages. Through outreach and educational efforts, the Centers address the major challenges encountered by countries seeking to promote a coalbed methane recovery industry, notably: A The absence of information about coalbed methane project opportunities; A The lack of information about domestic expertise in the area of coalbed methane recovery; and A The unfamiliarity of interested parties with governmental procedures for energy investment. The parties interested in coalbed methane recovery projects are varied and range from private businesses to foreign and domestic government agencies to private and multinational financial institutions. There are currently two Coalbed Methane Clearinghouses, one each in China and Russia. The China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse is located in Beijing and the Russia Coalbed Methane Center is located in Kemerovo, in close proximity to Russia's main coalbed methane rich, coal- producing region. Both China and Russia are major coal mining countries and both have extensive coalbed methane reserves. How Does a Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse Operate? Coalbed Methane Clearinghouses are staffed by persons knowledgeable in many aspects of coalbed methane recovery in their respective countries. They have access to a wide network of domestic and international contacts, who can provide them with the most current information on coalbed methane recovery. The Centers undertake a variety of projects, including: A Identifying project opportunities; A Creating a domestic industry network for information exchange and project development, and connecting potential developers with these contacts; A Providing logistical support to various organizations by arranging meetings with key officials and providing translation for participants; A Researching and publishing technical documents, including journals and reports; A Recommending policies on coalbed methane recovery to government agencies; A Supplying information about recent technological advancements in methane recovery from coal seams; A Consulting and providing analytical support on specific mines; and A Maintaining an up-to-date database with coalbed methane data. ------- 1 What Specific Services Can I Expect From a Clearinghouse? ^ Both the China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse (CCMC) and the Russian Coalbed Methane Center 2 (RCMC) provide an array of services designed to ensure that potential participants in coalbed methane ^ recovery are fully educated on the technical, financial, and domestic issues surrounding coalbed -o methane recovery. These services include: c £ Assisting Government and Lending Organizations. In most countries, several different government ministries and agencies are responsible for various aspects of coalbed methane-related matters. Centers serve as a non-partisan, educational resource for government agencies involved in coalbed methane issues. Additionally, the Centers can assist with economic and financial analyses. Both Centers are capable of performing project finance modeling. (j A The CCMC assisted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation's Coal Mine Gas Project in identifying a coal mine gas use project in China. Organizing Technical Seminars and Symposia. Because of the wealth of knowledge contained within these Centers, the Centers are well-suited to hosting seminars, workshops, and symposia related to coalbed methane projects. In the past, various subject matters have been discussed including: international achievements in coalbed methane recovery and use; application of particular .o technologies for enhanced methane recovery; and options for financing methane projects. Examples of recent activities include: A The United Nations-sponsored 1995 International Conference on Coalbed Methane, which was JE organized by the CCMC, and *? A The RCMC's seminar on directional drilling techniques for the Kuzbass Coal Basin mines. • • Providing Logistical Support. The Centers provide logistical support to companies interested in developing coalbed methane resources. This function is especially useful for foreign companies that need help establishing contacts, arranging meetings and mine tours, and finding translation and transportation assistance. t) (j A The CCMC helped the Finland-based Wartsila Diesel Group meet with key organizations in « China's power generation market. Promoting Coalbed Methane Development Policy. The Clearinghouses can produce Z documents for use in formulating coalbed methane development policies and regulations. A At the request of China's Ministry of Coal Industry (MOCI), the CCMC prepared a report on coalbed methane development in selected coal producing countries. MOCI used this report to (j aid in establishing policies on coalbed methane development in China. A The CCMC helped establish incentives to develop coalbed methane, such as a law exempting coalbed methane producers from royalties and land occupation fees for production of up to 2 billion cubic meters of methane per year. A The RCMC is collaborating with th$ Russian government on incorporation of coalbed methane into climate change mitigation policy. Publishing Technical Periodicals. Both Clearinghouses publish technical periodicals, in native- languages and English. These periodicals are widely read by the coalbed methane industry. A The CCMC publishes two Chineserlanguage and one English-language journal each year. A The RCMC publishes three Russian-language and one English-language newsletter annually. To receive copies of these informative publications, please contact the individual clearinghouses. Refer to the "For More Information" section on page 4 for additional details. ------- Preparing and Translating Reports. The Centers produce, translate, and distribute a variety of useful reports related to coalbed methane exploration and development. Additionally, the Centers assist in translation for coalbed methane related business activities. A The RCMC translated a U.S. EPA report on the potential to recover coalbed methane from the Kuznetsk coal basin of Russia. This translated report provided Russian stakeholders in the coal mine methane industry with information on the current and future potential for developing coalbed methane resources and attracting Western capital. Building Alliances. One of the most important services the Centers provide is the linking of the mining industry with coalbed methane researchers. For example, the Centers often assist universities with energy technology programs by writing proposals for methane recovery and use projects. A The CCMC provided extensive information on coalbed methane development to Southwest Petroleum University of China. With assistance from the Clearinghouse, the University was awarded a contract for coalbed methane research projects from the Pingdingshan Coal Mining Administration. Collecting and Analyzing Data. Clearinghouses obtain information on coal production, methane emissions, energy prices, technology, and government policy for private companies and government organizations. Much of this information is regularly updated and easily retrieved. A The RCMC assisted the U.S. EPA and the Kirov Mine by researching capital and operating cost estimates used for a proposal to convert coal fired boilers to coalbed methane fueled boilers. A The CCMC and RCMC provided key data used in the U.S. EPA's reports on coalbed methane opportunities in China and Russia, respectively. These reports are available from the EPA Coalbed Methane Program. Conducting Economic Analyses of Potential Projects. Both Centers have highly- skilled staff capable of helping interested parties determine the economic viability of coalbed methane recovery projects in China/Russia. A The CCMC uses its Coalbed Methane Financial Analysis Model to evaluate the potential profitability of a coalbed methane recovery and use project, which can be accessed by private business interests. CCMC can use this model to help interested parties measure investment opportunities. With increasing interest in coalbed methane project development, and heightened environmental awareness, the clearinghouses are realizing a substantial need for their services and are constantly seeking ways to better serve a growing client base. Regardless of the coalbed methane issue, the Centers' team of dedicated and knowledgeable staff can tap a variety of resources to meet your needs. ------- c Ic U c rt 'in in I C •- 0) U o For More Information For more information concerning the China or Russia Centers, or to order U.S. EPA publications on coalbed methane recovery and development in these countries, please call the toll-free hotline, in the U.S., at l-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937) To /earn more about the CCMC, please contact: Dou Qingfeng, Director China Coalbed Methane Clearinghouse 21 Hepingli Beijie RO. Box 1419 Beijing 100713 China Phone: (86) (10) 6421 -7766 ext. 24414 o Fax: (86) (10)6420-1328 Internet address: abd310@istic.sti.ac.c i To /earn more about the RCMC, please contact: or 6241-5187 O I •5 0) id 1 Dr. Oleg Tailakov, Director Russian Coalbed Methane Center 21 Rukavishnikova St. Kemerovo 650625 Russia Phone: (7) (3842) 259-300 or 259-366 Fax: (7) (3842) 211-838 Internet address: tailakov@mail.stanetfu Russian Coalbed MetHLane Center ------- |