OREANDA-NEWS. On April 09, 2009 The National Environmental Investment Agency of Ukraine (NEIA) has approved the first project of Krasnodonugol, which includes Kyoto Protocol mechanisms and pursues raising safety of miners and cutting green house gas (GHG) emissions by production facilities of the company. Overall reduction of GHG emissions up to 2012 will make about 300,000 tonnes of CO2 (equiv.) under the project, reported the press-centre of SCM. 

The quotas will be bought by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Krasnodonugol expects to get the first portion of funds before the end of 2009 and allocate on further improvement of health and safety in the company.

Krasnodonugol has been working with flexible mechanisms of Kyoto Protocol since 2006. The first Joint Implementation project in Sukhodolskoye-Vostochnoye colliery group was successfully registered at the end of March 2009.

The project helps achieve two goals: to improve the safety of miners and scale back air emissions of coalmine methane, in particular, by using methane instead of coal in boiler houses to heat premises and ensure hot water supply. Krasnodonugol has invested over US1m in the project so far. Approval by the National environmental investment agency will allow raising foreign investment to deliver the objectives.

The company is developing and implementing a number of other projects on health and safety and environment, which apply mechanisms of Kyoto Protocol. Almost all big units of the company have inventoried emissions as a part of the programme to identify emissions reduction opportunities.

"Today we are proud to speak about official registration of the first project under Kyoto Protocol, which improves health and safety as well as environment in Ukraine and globally through reduction of GHG emissions. We are certain that the first project will be followed by others. All funds received from realization of projects including emission quota sales will be channelled on further improvement of health and safety and the environment", said Aleksandr Potapenko, CEO of Krasnodonugol.