The $30 million West Cliff Ventilation Air Methane Project converts low methane concentrations in mine ventilation air to energy and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the West Cliff site by 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.

International emissions control specialists MEGTEC Systems AB joined the mining giant on the project – which is the final stage in the company's gas emissions generation program and will boost energy levels being produced by methane drainage power plants in operation at the Appin and Appin West (formerly Tower) sites.

It uses Vocsidizer technology to convert low concentration methane gas (typically less than 1.25% of air volume) to carbon dioxide and water vapour through an oxidation, or flameless combustion, process.

Heat exchangers then capture the high levels of thermal energy released and use it to produce steam that is then used to drive a steam turbine and create electricity.

The station was officially opened by New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma.

“This facility will make a significant contribution to greenhouse gas reduction in New South Wales, and I applaud the ingenuity of BHP Billiton and its technology providers, MEGTEC Systems AB," Iemma said.

BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal president Colin Bloomfield said the project was a fine example of BHP Billiton’s Climate Change Policy in action.

“The policy is about delivering real reductions in the greenhouse gas intensity of our production processes and WestVAMP is making a significant contribution to reducing BHP Billiton’s carbon footprint," Bloomfield said.

“The NSW Government’s forward thinking Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme has provided the fiscal conditions to make this innovative investment possible."

Bloomfield added the support of the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme with a $6 million contribution has also been critical to the commercial viability of the investment.