Boost to CBM research

China yesterday set up the China United Coalbed Methane National Engineering Research Center in a move to boost the coalbed methane (CBM) industry.

With a registered capital of 76 million yuan, the center is co-funded by six companies: China United Coalbed Methane Corp Ltd (CUCBM), PetroChina, Sinopec, Huaibei Mining Group, China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Beijing Orion Co Ltd.

With the center, China will quicken its pace of CBM development, which has components similar to natural gas.