OREANDA-NEWS. March 21, 2008. The city of Kemerovo hosted today a meeting dedicated to the issues regarding the execution of the pilot coalbed methane production project. The meeting was co-chaired by Aman Tuleev, Governor of the Kemerovo Oblast and Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee.

Participating at the meeting were Sergey Shatirov, Member of the Federation Council of Russia’s Federal Assembly, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Committee for Industrial Policy, Vasily Podyuk, Member of the Gazprom Management Committee as well as heads and experts of Gazprom’s core business units and subsidiaries – Promgaz, Gazprom transgaz Tomsk, GPK Kuznetsk as well as representatives of the Kemerovo Oblast Administration.

While opening the meeting Alexander Ananenkov mentioned that the existing global practice enables to consider coalbed methane production as a significant supplement to Gazprom’s resources.

The task we are facing demands not only implementing one of the largest innovation projects on the pilot methane coalbed production, but also creating a new segment of gas industry to become an essential element of Gazprom’s production complex. Commercial introduction of Russian coalbed methane production technologies will minimize accidents at coal mines and considerably improve the ecological situation,” – emphasized Alexander Ananenkov.

The participants addressed the implementation progress of the pilot coalbed methane production project and planned the high-priority activities to be performed within the project during 2008-2009.

The meeting resulted in signing a joint protocol. The significance of the project support by the government is particularly highlighted in the protocol. Among the primary measures proposed to be taken in this direction was including coalbed methane in the industrial classification system, reduction or annihilation of customs duties for the entry of equipment and materials having no domestic analogues and needed for the execution of the project as well as support in issues related to land and subsurface use as well as energy supply.  In this context the Kemerovo Oblast Administration will introduce several changes and supplements in the subsurface use laws aimed at solving issues relevant to the legal basis provision for coalbed methane production.

Gazprom and the Kemerovo Oblast Administration will jointly identify regional industrial and social entities intended for pilot deliveries of coalbed methane.

The decision was taken to offer the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas to start development and training of specialists in non-conventional gas production.

It is extremely important for the Kemerovo Oblast that the pilot coalbed methane production project carried out by Gazprom be successfully completed and become a basis for commercial gas production at coal fields. On our part we are resolved to deliver full support to the project from now to the future,” – stated Aman Tuleev, the Kemerovo Oblast Governor.