6th February, 2003
Ministry of Coal  


PRODUCTION OF CBM TO PROVIDE SYNERGY : SHRI KARIYA MUNDA


Shri Kariya Munda, Minister of Coal has said that the signing of two contracts for exploration and production of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) between Government of India and two Public Sector Enterprises; Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and Coal India Limited (CIL) would provide synergy which would fuel economic growth. The CBM is expected to supplement the conventional sources of natural gas and would help in bridging the domestic supply gap.

Speaking on the occasion of signing of contracts for the Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Blocks with ONGC and CIL here today Shri Kariya Munda said that earlier Government had signed 6 contracts for exploration and production of CBM including 5 contracts under the first round of CBM. He said CIL has also taken up a CBM project with financial assistance from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Fund (GEF) with the main purpose to provide and disseminate information and data on CBM and replication of best CBM technologies in the country. Emission of methane during coal mining is the main reason for underground explosion in the coal mines and due to proposed commercial production of CBM from the coal bed, the safety hazards would reduce significantly, he added.