Astana, July 17 - Neftegaz.RU. Kanysh Satbayev Kazakh National Technical University and ArcelorMittal Temirtau will begin a joint venture to explore and produce coalbed methane in the Karaganda coal basin, Astana Times reported.
Coalbed methane is a gas present in active, working mine sites. According to forecasts, its resources in the Karaganda coal basin, reaching a depth of 1,500 metres, are significant.
The project will start with coalbed methane geological prospecting in coal seams on contractual territories with subsequent methane extraction.
Providing safe workplaces for miners is an essential factor in extracting coal seam methane. Tax preferences for coalbed methane production are provided as part of state support. Coalbed methane is classified as a mineral in accordance with the new code On Subsoil and Subsoil Use adopted in December.
Methane processing is the next goal, which will be developed in the coming months. Cooperation between the industrial company and national scientific and research technical university is a major achievement for the country.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev set the task of developing Karaganda’s green economy, energy sector and coalbed methane exploration and production. The gas can be used both to meet the needs of the company and the region as well as for gas-chemical methane processing to obtain a range of high value-added products.
Coalbed methane is an important source of energy in countries such as Australia, Canada, China, and the U.S. World coalbed methane production is currently 58 billion cubic metres per year.
ArcelorMittal Temirtau, part of ArcelorMittal Group, is Kazakhstan’s largest mining and metallurgical enterprise. It includes a steel plant in Temirtau, 8 coal mines in the Karaganda region and 4 iron ore mines in the Akmola, Karaganda and Kostanai regions.
