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DEV/2072

UN SYMPOSIUM ON COAL BED METHANE DEVELOPMENT AND UTILIZATION HELD IN BEIJING

20 October 1995


Press Release
DEV/2072


UN SYMPOSIUM ON COAL BED METHANE DEVELOPMENT AND UTILIZATION HELD IN BEIJING

19951020 The 1995 United Nations International Symposium on Coal Bed Methane Development and Utilization was formally opened in Beijing on 17 October. The Symposium brought together more than 90 participants from 20 developing and developed countries, as well as 100 representatives from China.

During the four-day period, discussion was scheduled on the prospects for the recovery and utilization of coal bed methane, an emerging technology that carried with it the promise of safe, clean and economical use of coal. Recovery and use of coal bed methane not only reduced atmospheric releases of the gas, itself a significant greenhouse gas contributor, but also allowed substitution of methane for coal as a high quality, environmentally-preferred fuel. The Symposium was to provide opportunities to review the potential and developing status of ongoing coal bed methane recovery projects in China, as well as the implications for attracting advanced technologies, promoting more offshore investment, and increasing emphasis on coal bed methane utilization in other developing countries.

Coal bed methane development in China has been strongly supported by the Global Environmental Facility, which provides funds to address specific environmental problems of global import. Twenty foreign companies were conducting preliminary exploration and research in China for coal bed methane resource identification, recovery and utilization. Representatives from many of those companies, including AMOCO, TEXACO, ENRON, MITSUI and other companies active in the coal bed methane industry, were attending the Symposium.

Presiding dignitaries at the opening ceremonies included Zhu Guangya, Vice Chairman, National Political Consultative Congress, Ye Qing, Vice- Chairman, State Planning Commission, Xie Zhenhue, Administrator, National Environmental Protection Agency, and Wang Shenhao, Minister of Coal Industry. Adrianus Mooy, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), represented the United Nations Secretary-General.

In opening remarks, Mr. Mooy cited the Symposium as an outstanding example of United Nations efforts to promote collaboration and technical assistance throughout the developing world, an effort that was increasingly essential in times of scarce resources and proliferating needs. Mr. Ye Qing

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emphasized the link between energy and environment, particularly in China, which had been reaffirmed in the 16th Congress of the World Energy Council in Tokyo. Other senior officials of the Chinese Government pointed out that the Government would facilitate the establishment of a sound legal, institutional, economic and environment basis for the development of a viable coal bed methane industry, jointly with foreign partners.

The Symposium was organized by the United Nations Department of Development Support and Management Services in cooperation with the Government of China. The United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Japan Ministry of International Trade and Industry were co-sponsors.

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For information media. Not an official record.