Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas

Extract from “ ...allAfrica.com....” dated 6th January,2010 citing the Zimbabwe Herald :-

QUOTE “...... Harare — GOVERNMENT is expected to invest US$450 million in the development of the coal bed methane gas project in Lupane.The development of the project with a capacity to produce 300 megawatts of power is expected to take place within the next two years.According to the new three-year Macro-economic Policy and Budget Framework covering 2010 to 2012, apart from generating power, the project will also include gas field exploration, power station construction and pipeline construction.Over and above the gas output, the coal bed methane project is expected to benefit industry through getting raw materials to manufacture by-products such as stockfeed, fertilizers and petro-chemicals.The Lupane coal bed methane gas project was granted National Project Status by Government in 2007, which made it a priority.......” .UNQUOTE .

See: http://allafrica.com/stories/201001060665.html

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 2 ] CONTINUED from allAfrica.com dated 6th January,2010 : -

“...... At the time the granting of the National Project Status was expected to pave way for the release of funds for proving that the gas resource in the area was mineable.

Estimates then put the cost of the project, which included setting up a mini gas field,

at US$12 million.

The Industrial Development Corporation, which has been spearheading the project, signed a memorandum of understanding with an Indian company in respect of the project in 2006.However, the commencement of the project has been stalled by delays in securing an investor to partner the IDC in the project......”. UNQUOTE.

See http://allafrica.com/stories/201001060665.html

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas :

Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 3 ] CONTINUED........... allAfrica.com dated 6th January,2010 : -

QUOTE : “......... Another company that also has interest in the area, Zambezi Gas, which owns the Entuba claim in Hwange, is also expected to start exploiting its gas reserves.

The company recently indicated that it would start with coal mining within the claim in order to raise the capital needed to exploit the gas reserves.

The company recently took delivery of equipment worth more than US$5 million from China to begin coal mining.

Zimbabwe has the largest untapped gas reserves in Southern Africa. Apart from the Entuba gas reserves, the Lupane area is estimated to

have 665 000 cubic metres of methane gas deposits, making it the biggest reserve in the region.......”. UNQUOTE.

See http://allafrica.com/stories/201001060665.html

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas :Environmental Impact Assessment Study [4 ]

Clean Energy versus Environmental degradation ;

Clean Energy and Funding ;Clean Energy and infrastructural

development ; Clean Energy and Climate Warming ;

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 5 ]• Development in Matabeland North Province :- Extract from Zimbabwe Standard dated 10th December, 2006

QUOTE : “..... the government had not finished building Elitsheni government complex in Lupane, the provincial headquarters. As a result, the province’s government departments remained at the Mhlahlandlela complex in Bulawayo.

According to the officials, these were not the only projects that had not been given priority by the Government.

The Lupane methane gas project, the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project and the Gwayi-Shangani dam have had their own fair share of problems involving funding.

The construction of the multi- billion dollar dam is seen as a permanent solution to the southern region’s water problems.......”. UNQUOTE.

See http://www.thestandard.co.zw/local/10775.html

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 6 ]

• Extract from Zimvest : Investing in Zimbabwe

QUOTE : “...... The Government recognises the need to stimulate investment. Therefore, it is the intended objective of increasing investment capacity from 4% of GDP to over 25% of GDP. Increased investment is meant to underpin sustainable economic growth and development…..

Zimbabwe’s overall investment environment offers a market driven economy with the following attributes:

• Abundant natural resources; • Well developed infrastructure which only needs some maintenance; • Access to world and regional markets; • Educated, easily trainable labour force with at least four years of secondary

education, and • Liberal labour regulations based on collective bargaining. ....”. UNQUOTE .

• See : http://www.zimvest.co.za/find.asp

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [7] EXTRACT : TRADE INVEST AFRICA and INTERNATIONAL LAND COALITION dated 15 th January,

2010 :-

QUOTE : “...... INCENTIVES FOR INVESTMENT The Zimbabwe Government is offering a number of incentives to investors in

the mining, construction and tourism industries. Mining:

• Income tax on mining companies to be levied at a flat rate of 15 %.• All capital expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively for mining operations shall be allowed as a deduction at the rate of 100%.• Royalties on minerals are extremely low, but are non tax deductible and are charged on a gross fair market value.• There is a 5% withholding tax on dividends for Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) listed companies and 10% for all other companies.• There shall be a duty exemption for customs duty, surtax and VAT on all capital goods during the exploration phase of a mining project and for a period of up to five years from the date of grant of mining title, during the development phase thereof......”. UNQUOTE .

See http://www.tradeinvestafrica.com/investment_opportunities/227542.htm

See http://www.landcoalition.org/cpl-blog/?p=4281

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas :

Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 8 ] Extract from The Herald (Zimbabwe ) dated 20th July 2009

QUOTE : “......... DESPITE various economic benefits that come with utilising the country's gold, there is need to raise the level of awareness of various stakeholders on the environmental impact of gold panning in the country, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Murisi Zwizwai has said.

Speaking in an interview with the Herald Business Deputy Minister Zwizwai said there was an urgent need to bring all stakeholders in the mining business together to deal with the negative effects of mining on the environment.

"Mining is a beneficial activity to any country and in Zimbabwe we are ready to utilise all mineral resources at our disposal to revamp our economy.

"It is also true that mining activities have that negative impact on the environment mainly because of the different extraction methods used in mining," said the Deputy Minister. ......”. UNQUOTE.

See : http://allafrica.com/stories/200907200050.html

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 9 ] Comparitive Studies of Environmental Impact of Coal Mining

in :-

USA China Canada Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 10 ] USA : Extract from BUKISA on the subject of The Environmental Impact of

Coal Mining dated 11thJjanuary, 2009 :-

QUOTE : “....... Coal mining can cause adverse environmental impacts if environmental precautions are not taken. In the past, strip mining would severely damage most environmental value in the surrounding land. In response to negative land effects of coal mining and the abundance of abandoned mines, the federal government enacted the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), which requires reclamation plans for future coal mining sites. Reclamation plans must be approved and permitted by federal or state authorities before mining begins. As of 2003, over 2 million acres (8000 km²) of previously mined lands have been reclaimed in the United States........”.

See : http://www.bukisa.com/articles/23236_the-environmental-impacts-of-coal-mining

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 11 ]• CHINA : Extract from the World bank : Mitigating the Environmental

Impact of Coal in China :

QUOTE : “...... While China’s coal resources are deemed sufficient for its needs in the coming two decades, the environmental cost of coal use is already beginning to take its toll, particularly through SO2 (Sulphure Dioxide) and NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) emissions which are the leading causes of acid rain. In 2002, about 34 percent (or 6.6 million tons) of China’s SO2 emissions were released from power plants. Acid rain falls on an estimated 30 percent of China’s land mass and can become a threat to agricultural output. China’s CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) emissions, second only to the United States, are also a threat to the global environment.

A combination of clean-coal technologies at the input, processing and output stages of the power generation process, the enforcement of emission control regulation, and sector policies (such as pricing) have the potential to mitigate the environmental impact of coal use. Significant reductions in environmental impact in the long-term will require a major effort......”.UNQUOTE.

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/EXTEAPREGTOPENERGY/0,,contentMDK:20491256~menuPK:574044~pagePK:34004173~piPK:34003707~theSitePK:574015,00.html

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 12 ] CANADA : Extract from Guardian dated 7th October,2010 :- QUOTE : “..... Appalachia rises as mining razes mountains It's time government woke up and stopped Big Coal trashing our

land with its obscene mountaintop-removal mining.

......Big Coal has decided against almost-eternity for Central Appalachia. Ours is a war zone. To get at thin seams of coal, Massey and others detonate fertiliser and diesel fuel – the same materials used to build truck bombs. They destroy up to 1,000 vertical feet, dump the resulting rubble into valleys: hauling it away would cut into profits. And while solid mountains are practically inert, pulverised, their rock poisons air; poisons headwater streams flowing through valleys, down to the Mississippi, into the Gulf of Mexico...........”. UNQUOTE.

See : http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/oct/06/mining-mining

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 13 ]• Source: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation..... QUOTE : “........Natural gas is an extremely important

source of energy for reducing pollution and maintaining a clean and healthy environment. In addition to being a domestically abundant and secure source of energy, the use of natural gas also offers a number of environmental benefits over other sources of energy, particularly other fossil fuels.......”.UNQUOTE.

• See : http://www.naturalgas.org/environment/naturalgas.asp

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 14 ]• EXTRACT : NaturalGas.org

• QUOTE : “..... Natural gas is a clean burning fuel; its combustion emits fewer pollutants into the atmosphere than other fossil fuels. However, use of natural gas aside, the process of getting natural gas from underground to the end user has the potential for being environmentally destructive. Because of this, industry members have undertaken a number of initiatives, and invested in up to date technology that helps to mitigate the impact of natural gas production, transportation, and distribution. This section will discuss various programs and innovations that help to keep the environmental impact of the natural gas industry as small as possible, and provide links to relevant information regarding the natural gas industry and the environment........”. UNQUOTE.

See : http://www.naturalgas.org/environment/ng_industry_environment.asp

Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 15 ] Benefits of New Technology for Gas

Exploration and Gas Extraction -

. Allow for More Efficient Natural Gas Recovery

. Provide Cleaner Operations . Allow for Smaller Drilling Footprints


Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas : Environmental Impact Assessment Study [ 16 ]• EXTRACT : NaturalGas.org

• QUOTE : “....... Environmental Benefits of Increased Technology : The exploration and production of natural gas can have a significant impact on the environment.

However, innovative technologies have lessened the effect that natural gas exploration and production have on the environment. The benefits of technology are threefold:

" Allow for More Efficient Natural Gas Recovery - More efficient exploration and extraction techniques lead to the need for fewer wells to produce the same amount of natural gas. Since drilling operations impact the environment both onshore and offshore, fewer wells mean less environmental degradation." Provide Cleaner Operations - Innovative, energy efficient drilling and production methods decrease the emissions of air pollutants including greenhouse gases, reduce leaks and spills both onshore and offshore, protect ground water from contamination, and reduce the risk of blowouts." Allow for Smaller Drilling Footprints - New drilling technologies allow for the use of smaller drilling rigs, and decrease the surface impact of drilling for natural gas. Directional and horizontal drilling allow for less surface impact as a greater number of wells may be drilled from a single location, and drilling rig placement is more flexible........”. UNQUOTE.

• See : http://www.naturalgas.org/environment/ng_industry_environment.asp


New technology to increase gas extraction and lessen environmental impact ;

Fewer emissions ;Less risk of gas leaks and spills

http://www.naturalgas.org/environment/ng_industry_environment.asp


Extract : NaturalGas.org QUOTE : “...... ...Many specific technologies allow the natural gas

industry to obtain more natural gas per well drilled, and lessen the impact on the environment from drilling. New processing technologies allow for fewer emissions and less risk of leaks and spills which may also adversely affect the environment. The Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy has a report available entitled 'Environmental Benefits of Advanced Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Technology', which is an excellent source for learning about industry advancements and the environmental benefits of increased technology in the natural gas industry.........” . UNQUOTE.


Coal Bed Methane Gas General Information in the Public Domain • EXTRACT : ENERGY JUSTICE NETWORK :- • QUOTE : “..........Energy Justice is the grassroots

energy agenda, supporting communities threatened by polluting energy and waste technologies. Taking direction from our grassroots base and the Principles of Environmental Justice, we advocate a clean energy, zero-emission, zero-waste future for all........”. UNQUOTE.

• See : http://www.energyjustice.net/about

Coal Bed Methane Gas General Information in the Public Domain • EXTRACT : ENERGY JUSTICE NETWORK

• QUOTE : “......Goals: . To enable community activists to defeat polluting industries. • To create participant-led grassroots support networks around technologies that

community groups are fighting. • To bridge the campus-community divide. • To bring NIMBY groups to a NIABY analysis (not in anyone's backyard). • To reshape the energy and waste industries, eliminating support for false solutions

and supporting clean energy and zero waste policies, methods and technologies. • To act as a clearinghouse, providing information to the general public and the media. • To shift policies of other organizations, including mainstream environmental groups

and governmental bodies.......”.UNQUOTE.

• http://www.energyjustice.net/about

Coal Bed Methane Gas General Information in the Public Domain • Alaska Department of Natural Resources Cook Inlet Coal and Gas ( Information on

Alaska Cook Inlet and Gas Industry ).

http://www.cookinletoilandgas.org/kpb/issues.htm

Coal Bed Methane Gas General Information in the Public Domain EXTRACT : Atlas Copco ....China

QUOTE : “......Atlas Copco Provides Total Solution for Coal Bed Methane Drilling - Complete drilling equipment and services increase overall efficiency........”.UNQUOTE.

http://www.atlascopco.com/cnus/News/Applicationstories/Coal_Bed_Methane_Drilling.asp

Coal Bed Methane Gas General Information in the Public Domain • Gas Drilling Rigs

• http://atlascopco.com/oilandgasus/products/oilgasrigs/

• http://pol.atlascopco.com/SGSite/default_prod.asp?redirpage=products/product_group.asp&redirid=Predator+Oil+and+Gas+Drilling+System

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Zimbabwe Coal Bed Methane Gas