Coal-Bed Methane Activity in India

Mr RPN Singh, India's Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas informed parliamentarians that coal bed methane gas production from Raniganj (South) block in the State of West Bengal is around 146,000 cubic meter per day.

The commercial production of CBM from this block operated by Great Eastern Energy Corporation Limited started in July 2007.

The Government of India does not make any investment in CBM blocks for exploration, development and production activities. The entire investment is made by the contractors carrying out the committed work program, field development and production activities.

In order to harness the Coal Bed Methane potential in the country, government of India formulated a CBM Policy in year 1997 and implemented it in 2000. The policy has provided a level playing field for exploration and commercial exploitation of CBM by national and international companies.

So far, 33 CBM blocks have been awarded: 30 CBM blocks have been awarded in the first four rounds of CBM, two CBM blocks have been awarded on nomination basis and one through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board route.