OREANDA-NEWS. On 18 August 2008 was announced, that the pilot launch of the 1 MW gas thermal power mini-station was effected at the S. M. Kirov mine as part of the "Drained methane utilization at OJSC SUEK-Kuzbass mines" project. This plant will run on coalmine methane recovered as a result of mine degassing.

Under this project there are plans to launch two other thermal power ministations capable of producing 1,5 MW each at the mine, as well as to convert the coal boiler KE-10 to coal mine methane, to launch a vacuum pump station and a flare unit. The thermal power ministation will produce thermal and electric energy primarily for in-house consumption. There are plans to supply excess electric energy to the electric power market, while excess thermal energy will be fed to local heating systems.

Degassing brought about by the implementation of this project will significantly raise the safety level of underground operations, - says Vladimir Artemiev, Deputy General Director for Production, OJSC SUEK. - In fact, we are starting the thorough implementation of the Kyoto Protocol mechanisms. To this end, we significantly reduce the negative effect on the environment by converting methane into CO2 gas, which is less harmful for the atmosphere, and get economic benefits in the process".

The thermal power ministation launched is the first Joint Implementation project in Russia aimed to reduce CO2 emissions as per Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol. The emission reduction units generated as a result of methane utilization can be further used under the emissions trading scheme at the hydrocarbon market.