• OPERATIONS
Pexels : Dexter Fernandes
COALBED METHANE
EXTRACTION POTENTIAL
The potential of utilising coalbed methane as a short-term energy source in the SADC region is being investigated , writes Dr Nicolaas C Steenkamp .
The demand for new collieries is expected to stabilise in the near future to supply coal burning power stations in the SADC region . It is also expected that it will become harder to obtain financing for new coal burning power stations and the development of collieries . In addition , there are a number of coal seams that have been deemed uneconomical to extract due to high faulting associated with the coal seams or devolitisation due to extensive magmatic intrusions . These deposits may however still be viable for coalbed methane ( CBM ) extraction for energy purposes .
36 • African Mining • July 2022
Methane is a form of high-quality energy that can be used in power generation , heating , and chemical industries . Countries , including South Africa , Zimbabwe and more recently Botswana have considered the utilisation of potential CBM resources .
The advantages The advantage is that CBM can be recovered from underground coal before , during , or after mining operations . It can also be extracted from ‘ unminable ’ coal seams that are relatively deep ,
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