It is a fact that Methane is a worse Climate change gas than carbon dioxide and that burning methane produces CO2. Burning Methane which does help in the fight against climate change. However methane can be put to better use than just flaring it off.
Flaring methane is a mini step in the right direction for a company that is trying to be more environmentally conscious but I feel this this mini step could still be considered as lazy for a large company such as Anglo. Is this just a media stunt to fool the community that Anglo Thermal Coal is committed to reducing their carbon footprint? What ever it may be I do appreciate the gesture.
The following story from: Engineering news
Anglo Thermal Coal CEO Norman Mbazima says that the R9-million project at the company’s New Denmark colliery near Standerton involves the incorporation of two mobile flares into the mine’s methane drainage system.
Mbazima describes the project as a “proactive technological response” towards minimising the company’s carbon footprint.
Flaring renders the methane gas – which is released during coal mining – 18,5 times less environmentally harmful.
The enclosed Swiss-designed mobile flare – a joint New Denmark-Gemini Carbon concept, and a Clean Development Mechanism first – completely burns all the methane sent to it.
A small diesel blower delivers the methan to four flaring nozzles where the gas is mixed with air to a concentration that enables it to be safely burnt.
The flare’s communication system is solar-powered.
