LOWER EMISSIONS AND MORE ENERGY: THEY PRODUCE ELECTRICITY FROM COAL MINE METHANE AT THE DTEK PERSHOTRAVENSKE MINE GROUP

At Stepna Mine of DTEK Pershotravenske Mine Group, a “pilot” for methane utilization has been implemented. Now, the dangerous gas that is released in mine workings due to coal production is not only drawn out above ground to provide security for the miners, but it is also converted and transformed into electricity and heat in a special cogeneration plant. The utilization of secondary industrial gases reduces greenhouse emissions and thereby decreases the harm to the regional environment. The project is carried out jointly with Recycling Solutions.

Currently, it is one of the few alternative energy projects in Ukraine for cogeneration based on industrial gases. It provides 1.56 MW of rated electric power. The generated electrical and thermal energy is used to serve the needs of the mine (heating and power supply of Block No. 2 at Stepna Mine).

‘DTEK is a responsible company that actively introduces technologies helping to mitigate the negative impact of industrial production on the environment of the regions where our enterprises operate. For us, the project on electrical and thermal energy production from industrial gases such as coal mine methane instead of coal is primarily and mainly the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the move towards decarbonization. At Stepna Mine, where we produce about 2 million tons of coal per year, a great deal of methane is released in the mining process. With the aid of a mine-gas-drainage plant, we pull methane out of the mine and, early on, we released it into the atmosphere. Now, this gas is turned into electricity by the effect of combustion and only has minimal consequences for the environment. The phasing-out of coal and reducing waste generation is fully consistent with the purposes of the ESG strategy which the company accepted in 2019’, commented the Director of DTEK Energy Coal Production Mykhailo Barabash.

The project was implemented by Recycling Solutions which deals with the strategic waste and by-product management. The company was responsible for the engineering development, fundraising, construction, launch of the project and is engaged in its operations management. Recycling Solutions’ investments had totalled USD 2.6 million.

‘We develop and implement projects that help industry to relieve its environmental pressure and make efficient use of industrial secondary gases. Today, in Ukraine, the potential of that energy commodity is undervalued though the resource is used successfully in practice around the world. According to experts, only 1% of coal mine methane is processed in Ukraine’, noted Dmytro Anufriev, CEO of Recycling Solutions.

DTEK and Recycling Solutions are planning to implement similar projects at two additional mines of DTEK PAVLOHRADCOAL. This will enable to decrease greenhouse gas emissions in coal production by about 3% over the next two years.