TAIYUAN, July 21 (Xinhua) -- North China's coal-rich Shanxi Province achieved a record coalbed methane output of 7.3 billion cubic meters in the first half of this year, accounting for 81.7 percent of the country's total, according to the provincial statistics bureau.

As an unconventional natural gas, coalbed methane is considered a clean and strategic energy resource. Its effective utilization can help reduce risks in mining, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and ease gas shortages.

Shanxi holds abundant coalbed methane reserves, with an estimated 8.31 trillion cubic meters of resources buried at depths of less than 2,000 meters, nearly one-third of the national total.

In recent years, Shanxi has taken the lead nationwide in establishing major coalbed methane production bases. It has worked to intensify its efforts in key technology research and development for coalbed methane.

Currently, significant breakthroughs are being made in the exploration and development of coalbed methane in new fields and new strata, such as thin coal seams and deep coal seams, said industry experts. The innovation in technology and equipment system has provided solid support for the sustainable development of the sector. ■