The first-ever international forum on methane recovery and use was held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday, in a bid to facilitate international cooperation on methane capture and use.

The forum, "Methane to Markets Partnership Expo", has drawn over 800 participants from 34 countries. Altogether 88 new methane projects were showcased on the two-day forum including 30 Chinese projects.

Participants focused on the technologies of methane capture and use in four areas including agriculture, coal mining, landfill as well as oil and gas. They shared ideas and expertise on methane capture and use as well as project financing, and exchanged ideas about future cooperation in the four areas.

The forum is co-sponsored by China's National Development and Reform Commission and the US Environmental Protection Administration.

Methane is both the primary constituent of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) when released to the atmosphere. Capturing and using coal mine methane as a clean-burning energy source can reduce GHG emissions while bolstering mine productivity and security.

China, as the world's largest coal producer, has cooperated closely with the international community in coal mine methane recovery and utilization.

Senior Chinese climate official Gao Guangsheng said the Chinese government has attached great importance to climate change and emission reduction, adding he believes the forum would actively promote technological and economic cooperation in the field of methane recovery and utilization.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2007)