The Hindu Business Line : CIL unit to complete Moonidih project by Dec

Captive use
The gas will be utilised for captive power generation. CMPDIL has already procured the equipment necessary for commercial exploitation of CBM.

Our Bureau

Kolkata, Oct. 17

The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDIL) — a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd — is expecting completion of its coal bed methane development project at Moonidih in Jharia coalfields by December.

A company press release issued on Wednesday said that the company has successfully carried out the hydrofracturing in its first production well on October 16.

“Two more hydrofracturing will be done in the same hole during the first week of November. Methane gas production is likely to start from the borehole by middle of December,” said Mr T.K. Samanta, Head Business Development.

The gas will be utilised for captive power generation. CMPDIL has already procured the equipment necessary for commercial exploitation of CBM.

Launched in 1997, the UNDP-GEF (Global Environmental Facility) funded CBM project was undertaken by CMPDIL to promote the production and commercial utilisation of CBM as a viable energy source and making future coal mining activity safer.

Methane trapped in coal seams is considered a major safety hazard for undertaking coal mining activity.

The total project cost was estimated to be $19.2 million (Rs 76 crore). Of the total, approximately $10 million was funded as GEF grant.

Originally slated for completion in five years, the project has undergone several rounds time over run.

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