The three day seminar, from September 4-6, will play a key role in considering research priorities to be supported under the federal government’s $70 million coal mining abatement technology support package program.

The first two days of this event will include a seminar with key themes covering international developments; the treatment of low concentration of methane in ventilation air; systems to avoid methane entering the ventilation system; power generation from waste coal mine gases; and measuring, monitoring and greenhouse reporting.

The seminar will also play host to a meeting of the Global Methane Initiative Coal Subcommittee, which will bring together policy officers from member countries and private sector members of the GMI Project Network.

“Companies wanting to learn more about the work of the GMI in facilitating international methane abatement projects are welcome to attend this meeting,” the organisers of the seminar said.

The third day will involve a tour of waste coal mine gas power stations in the Illawarra region southwest of Sydney.

It will include a visit to the Appin-Tower 96 megawatt waste coal mine gas power stations – the forerunner to successful WCMG power stations in Australia and around the world.

It will also include the WestVAMP power station – the world’s first ventilation air methane power station at an operating coal mine.

These visits will allow participants to gain a first-hand understanding of the opportunities and challenges in using fugitive methane emissions from coal mines.

The government said it would fund a five year program to support the further development and commercialisation of technologies needed to safely avoid and reduce methane emissions from coal mining.