Xinhua quoted the National Energy Administration said that China coal-bed methane output will reach 30 billion cubic meters in 2015.

According to a coal-bed methane development program published by the NEA the country aims to add 1 trillion cubic meters of coal-bed methane to its reserves over the next four years and build methane production bases in Qinshui Basin in Shanxi province and Ordos Basin in Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

According to the program China will invest CNY 116.6 billion in coal-bed methane production over the next four years, and establish 13 pipelines with a capacity of 12 billion cubic meters. China has stepped up its efforts to boost development of renewable and unconventional energy resources in recent years to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment.

Mr Wei Pengyuan deputy head of the NEA coal department said the country plans to increase the coal-bed methane production subsidy to CNY 0.4 to CNY 0.5 per cubic meter from CNY 0.3 per cubic meter.

The country methane resources are estimated at 37 trillion cubic meters ranking third in the world.

(Sourced from Xinhua)