Astana, Kazakhstan, April 8
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
The research on extracting natural gas (methane) from the coal of Karaganda basin will be continued in Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Vice Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan Nurlan Sauranbayev said.
"Previously conducted research of the Karaganda coal basin showed that the gas exists, but it is difficult to extract. We will continue further studies on the extraction of gas [methane] from Karaganda basin coal. A three-year program was adopted in this regard," Sauranbayev told journalists during the round table held on April 8.
An action plan was prepared for the study of the methane of the Karaganda coal basin, according to the vice minister.
"This year it is planned to complete the analysis and generalization of the source material to identify the most promising areas for extraction of methane from coal. Several subsoil users conduct research, there is potential, but the question is, how to remove it [gas] from coal," he said.
Some 60 percent of the specialists of the geology center in Ankara are working on the issue of extraction of gas from coal in recent years according to Sauranbayev. Similar studies are actively carried out in China.
"Kazakhstan has enough coal reserves for 500 years. It is important for us to obtain gas from it. If we will be able to extract gas from coal, then we will solve a very big problem in the central region of Kazakhstan, which needs gas," Sauranbayev said.
Translated by S.I.
Edited by C.N.