At an event in Ranchi, India, the US Environmental Protection Agency, in cooperation with the Government of India and other US federal partners, launched a new Methane to Markets information center that will help India reduce methane emissions and aid in the global fight against climate change. The Coal Mine Methane/Coalbed Methane (CMM/CBM) Clearinghouse is the first of its kind in India and will be instrumental in developing programs to recover methane from coal mines and use the gas as clean energy.

By bringing together suppliers, purchasers, financers, and regulators, Methane to Markets and EPA are ensuring that valuable methane is captured and a clean source of energy does not go to waste. Through the partnership, successful coal mine methane clearinghouses are in operation in several other countries including China, Russia, and Ukraine.

The clearinghouse, located at the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute in Ranchi, will be the initial point of contact for domestic and international investors interested in the development of coalbed and coal mine methane projects in India. It will also help develop and promote the CMM/CBM market, providing information on technical, economic, financial, and policy issues to potential investors and service providers.

Event sponsors include the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, EPA, the Indian Ministry of Coal, the Indian Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Coal India Ltd.

Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is more than 20 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. As the primary component of natural gas, methane is a valuable and clean-burning energy resource.

Methane to Markets, launched in 2004, is a public/private partnership that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of methane, while providing clean energy to markets around the world. The partnership has grown to include 27 countries and more than 750 private sector entities, financial institutions, nongovernmental agencies and other organizations.