Coal India to Get CBM Reserves Assessed

Coal India has issued expression of interest inviting companies to assess methane reserves of Indian coalfields, the state owned firm said in a tender notice.

"India has large coal reserves which may be amenable for harnessing of coal bed methane. Several blocks have been carved out and allotted for commercial extraction of CBM. Carving out more blocks in the greenfield areas for commercial development of CBM is to be taken up on priority basis to augment energy supply in the country,” the notice said.

For reliable assessment of CBM resource for carving out CBM blocks in greenfield areas, proving of coal reserves is a pre-requisite, it said. 

In March, India’s Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas informed the country’s parliament that coal bed methane (CBM) production in the country is estimated to reach 4 Million Standard Cubic Meter Per Day (mmscmd) by the year 2016-17 as compared to the current level of production of 0.23 mmscmd in 2011-12.