Scholarly record

COAL BED METHANE DRAINAGE IN INDIA: AN ECO FRIENDLY FUEL FOR FUTURE

A. K. Agarwal, P. K Jha, P.J. Murodiya

Abstract

Coal, Oil and Natural gas account for 30\%, 31\% and 2\% respectively of the world’s total energy. In India, coal based energy is the main source of energy and its energy demand is increasing at the rate of 9\% per year. The supply on the other hand is lagging behind. If this trend continuous, it is estimated that by the year 2022, India would be required to spend Rs. 860 billion per year to meet its energy demand. World attention has recently started shifting towards methane, which can be exploited from the coal bed. Coal mining accounts for an estimated 10\% of all methane emissions. Methane, a potent Green House gas (GHG) is released into the atmosphere during and after mining of coal, contributing to climatic changes. The effects of air pollution due to GHGs have recently sparked a new wave of consciousness from the international arena. Climatic change is one of the most notable effects that are being felt today. The impact of climate change could have far-reaching and unpredictable environment, social and economic consequences. Indeed the climate change problem and the related changes it may bring about are among the most serious of the environmental issues that we face today. For example, these climatic changes encourage the movement of tropical diseases such as malaria northwards, where populations have little or no immunity. The soil fertility also changes and the agricultural productivity goes down as it shifts from more fertile to less fertile regions. Technologies are now available to recover methane trapped in coal seams by drilling prior to and after coal mining. Recovery and use of this otherwise wasted source of energy both reduces methane emissions to the atmosphere for the protection of Global Environment and increases coal mine safety by eliminating this flammable gas from work area.

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