Coal Sector

The Coal Mines Subcommittee focuses on supporting the identification and deployment of practical and cost-effective methane mitigation technologies and practices to reduce or eliminate emissions from coal mines. This is achieved by encouraging collaboration among Partner Countries, Subcommittee members, and Project Network members to build capacity, develop strategies and markets, and remove technical and non-technical barriers to methane mitigation project development. Ultimately, such collaboration can increase environmental quality, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen the economy via the additional methane brought to market.

Upcoming Events

28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28)

30 November–12 December 2023, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

COP28, short for the 28th Conference of the Parties, is an international climate summit focused on addressing climate change issues and mobilizing global environmental action. COP28 is hosted by the Unites Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai and will take place between 30 November and 12 December 2023. The major international event brings together heads of state, senior government officials, leading scientists, private sector stakeholders, members of the public, and journalists. The multi-day conference will host talks, interactive sessions, and governmental negotiations on a range of topics including greenhouse gas emissions reduction, adaptation measures, climate finance, and global cooperation in the face of the planets growing environmental challenges. 

Visit the event website for more information: Thematic Program - COP28 Schedule & Agenda - COP28 UAE

For easy access to a list of methane-related events, visit the COP28 webpage developed by CCAC in support of the Global Methane Pledge: Methane at COP28 | Global Methane Pledge

The Global Methane Initiative (GMI) strives to help countries achieve methane reductions by capturing and converting its useful energy. Events like COP28 promote this goal by fostering international collaboration to combat climate change. Several GMI Partner Country delegates are attending COP28 where they will share information and resources on behalf of GMI, and forge connections with other international climate leaders.

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19th Annual Southern African Coal Conference

31 January–2 February 2024, Cape Town, South Africa

The 19th Annual Southern African Coal Conference will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from 31 January - 2 February 2024. Presentations at the conference will address the challenge of reducing the use of fossil fuels while keeping energy secure. Regional government officials, industry leaders, and experts will discuss topics including the role of coal, business diversification of coal producers, demands for lower carbon emissions, political impacts on the coal industry, future export prices, and future challenges and opportunities.

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2024 Global Methane Forum

18–20 March 2024, Geneva, Switzerland

The 2024 Global Methane Forum will convene global thought and industry leaders in Geneva, Switzerland from 18-20 March 2024 to promote replicable methane mitigation successes and mobilize action to continue making progress toward addressing methane. The Forum will be hosted by the Global Methane Initiative and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in partnership with the Global Methane Hub and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

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13th International Mining Geology Conference 2024

7–8 May 2024, Perth, Australia

The 13th International Mining Geology Conference will be held in Perth, Australia from 7 – 8 May 2024. The conference provides an interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners, and educators to present and discuss innovations, trends, challenges, and solutions related to delivering value, planning, decision-making in geology, power of communication, and environmental responsibility. During the conference, industry experts will discuss advancements in mining geology, solutions to shared challenges, sustainable practices, and current techniques to maximize orebody, increase productivity, and improve decision making.

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12th International Mine Ventilation Congress 2024

12–15 August 2024, Sydney, Australia

The 12th International Mine Ventilation Congress (IMVC) will take place in Sydney, Australia from 12-15 August 2024. The IMVC series is the only global gathering of the mine ventilation engineering community, and the event will include discussions about new technologies and developments to improve and refine ventilation, refrigeration, cooling, and health and safety in mines globally.

The conference theme is “Ventilation Engineering - The Heartbeat of Mining,” and it will focus on the opportunity to simultaneously promote safe ventilation practices and enhance the productivity and operational effectiveness of mines. The management of Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) will be among the topics covered during the event.

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17th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies

20–24 October 2024, Calgary, Canada

The 17th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT-17) will be held in Calgary, Canada from 20 – 24 October 2024. This conference series is held every two years and it is a principal event covering greenhouse gas mitigation technologies, with a focus on storage, carbon capture, and utilization.


Industry leaders, business partners, and government officials from around the world will attend the event to educate and lay foundations for international partnerships to accelerate carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies at a commercial level. The event will feature speeches, panel discussions, plenary sessions, and poster presentations.

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Coal Mines Subcommittee

Subcommittee Co-chairs

Manoj Kumar, Co-Chair
Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI)
India

Volha Roshchanka, Co-Chair
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
United States

Liu Wenge, Co-Chair
China Coal Information Institute (CCII)
China

Subcommittee Members

Representatives from 14 countries participate in the Coal Mines Subcommittee.

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Project Network

Hundreds of Project Network members support methane abatement projects in the coal sector.

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Coal Mines Subcommittee Statement of Purpose
Coal Mines Subcommittee Statement of Purpose

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Recent Resources

Check out these featured resources. For a complete list of available coal resources, including technical documents, presentations, and tools, please visit the resources page.

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Brainstorming Session Notes on Solutions to the Top Barriers to Coal Mine Methane Project Development

This document summarizes feedback that was obtained during the brainstorming session held at the 32nd GMI Coal Mines Subcommittee meeting on 22 March 2023. Participants consisted of GMI Delegates, GMI Project Network members, and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Group of Experts on CMM. The brainstorming session aimed to identify approaches and solutions to the three CMM project barriers that were ranked as being the most relevant.

Basics of Coal Mine Methane Training (2022)

This training provides basic information about methane that is emitted through coal mining and summarizes potential mitigation options. The following topics are covered in the course:

  • Why is there methane in coal?
  • What are the primary methods of extracting coal?
  • What are the characteristics of methane emissions from coal mines?
  • How is methane captured using mine ventilation and gas drainage?
  • What are the beneficial uses of captured methane?

Conducting Pre-Feasibility Studies for Abandoned Mine Methane Projects Training (2022)

This course introduces principles for assessing the potential of developing projects to mitigate Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM). Determining if an AMM project is feasible requires an assessment of the project’s potential through a pre-feasibility study. Such studies are typically carried out by a project developer, or another third party, in partnership with a government organization. AMM project developers, third parties, mining company personnel, and government officials can all benefit from this training.



Conducting Pre-Feasibility Studies for Coal Mine Methane Projects Training (2021)

The U.S. EPA is developing this training course in support of the GMI and in conjunction with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). This course introduces principles for assessing the potential of developing projects to capture and/or use Coal Mine Methane (CMM). The introduced general approach should be underpinned by mine-specific data and analyses, allowing the principles to be tailored to the unique conditions at each mine. Ideally, such an assessment will lead to project development and implementation.

This training is available in English (2021) and Chinese (2022).

International Coal Mine Methane Projects Database (2021)

This Excel document contains information on over two hundred coal mine methane recovery and utilization projects operating, in development, or planned around the world in both Global Methane Initiative partner and non-partner countries.

Global Methane Emissions from Coal Mining to Continue Growing Even with Declining Coal Production (2020)

Coal mines are one of the largest sources of anthropogenic methane emissions. As the world produces more coal, coal mines get deeper every year, and methane emissions grow with increasing mining depth. Mine operators also abandon old coal mines, which still emit methane into the atmosphere. The U.S. EPA, in collaboration with the Global Methane Initiative and several other organizations, co-authored this paper that presents projections of global methane emissions from coal mining under different coal extraction scenarios and with increasing mining depth through 2100. The study estimates methane emissions from underground and surface coal production while accounting for the increase in mining depth using several new and compiled data sets.

Coal Mine Methane Country Profiles (2020)

This document contains individual, comprehensive profiles that characterize the coal and coal mine methane sectors of 37 countries—29 Global Methane Initiative partners and an additional eight coal-producing nations. In addition, an Introduction section provides additional methane information, summary tables, and country statistics.

Pre-Feasibility Study for Methane Drainage and Utilization at the Casa Blanca Coal Mine (2019)

This pre-feasibility study was completed to determine the feasibility of a coal mine methane (CMM) capture and utilization project at the Casa Blanca Coal Mine in Colombia.

Pre-Feasibility Study for Methane Drainage and Utilization at the Pootkee Colliery, Damodar Valley (2019)

This pre-feasibility study was completed to determine the viability of a CMM drainage project at the Pootkee Colliery. Specifically, the study evaluated the technical and economic viability of utilizing long in-mine horizontal boreholes drilled into Seam XII to drain methane in advance of mining, and to identify end-use options for the drained methane.

Coal Mine Methane Mitigation and Utilization Technologies and Project Profiles (2018)
(also referred to as the Coal Mine Methane Technology Database)

This database provides basic descriptions of several key technologies applicable to coal mine methane recovery and utilization, including each technology’s current status and commercial availability. It is intended to be a living document, which will be periodically updated to remain current. The database is an updated and revised version of the original database compiled by Australia’s Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, on behalf of the Global Methane Initiative.

Methane Mitigation Matters (2015)

Methane is a prevalent manmade greenhouse gas that traps 28 times more heat than carbon dioxide (CO2). Reducing methane emissions by recovering and using methane as a clean energy source offers many benefits for the environment and local communities. This video highlights the many ways that reducing methane can benefit the environment and local communities.

Global Methane Initiative (GMI)
Leading methane action since 2004