MANILA, PHILIPPINES - ADB has joined the international Methane to Markets Partnership as a Project Network member.

The partnership is a public-private venture that aims to advance methane recovery and use projects in four sectors: agriculture, coal mines, landfills and oil and gas systems.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, and ADB has recently been strengthening its efforts to help reduce the emissions of gases that contribute to climate change.

As a Project Network member, ADB will seek opportunities to leverage funds for project investments. Its country-specific knowledge of the Asia and Pacific region will also be harnessed in promoting the 2007 Methane to Markets Partnership Expo, a forum for projects, technology, financing, and policy, to be held in late October 2007 in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.

"In joining the Methane to Markets Partnership, we hope to further promote clean energy technology, improve air quality, and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region – the objectives laid out in our clean energy and environment initiatives," says Bindu N. Lohani, Director General of ADB's Regional and Sustainable Development Department.

"ADB brings opportunities for funding as well as expertise and knowledge of how to implement and finance full scale projects. We also have extensive experience with clean energy projects, including the recovery and use of methane from landfills and coal mines."

Most recently, ADB provided a $117 million loan to the Jincheng Anthracite Coal Group in Shanxi Province, China, which will be the world’s largest coal mine methane power plant.

Project Network members of the partnership are private firms, development banks, nongovernment organizations, and other bodies with an interest in methane recovery and use projects. More than 350 organizations from around the world have made commitments to this partnership through the Project Network.

Reducing methane emissions provides immediate environmental and energy benefits. As a greenhouse gas, methane is more than 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide at capturing heat in the atmosphere. Methane is also the primary component of natural gas, so capturing and using methane as a clean fuel also provides immediate economic, environmental and energy security benefits.

For more information on the Methane to Markets Partnership, visit the following websites: http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets or http://www.methanetomarkets.org

Source: http://www.adb.org/Media/Articles/2006/10906-regional-partnership/default.asp