Pursuant to Memorandum of Understanding signed on 30 October 2015 in Geneva, as of 2016 ICE-CMM International Centre of Excellence on Coal Mine Methane will be established in the Central Mining Institute and its activities will cover the field of methane from coal mines. The Centre will operate under the auspices of the Expert Group on Coal Mine Methane of UNECE, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. UNECE is one of the Regional Commissions of the United Nations, which mission is to support economic cooperation, and to promote and implement sustainable development. Climate Conference (COP21) will be held on 30 November 2015 in Paris and that is why this joint initiative becomes particularly important as the emission of methane into the atmosphere will be discussed in the context of the issue of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Methane gas is extremely dangerous for the underground work environment and it is also one of the most active greenhouse gases. Its global warming potential is 23 times greater than the potential of carbon dioxide. Over the past two hundred years, the concentration of methane in the atmosphere has more than doubled. Underground coal mining releases an average of approx. 15.6 m3 of methane per tonne of coal extracted. Methane drainage in underground excavations in Polish mines is conducted to ensure the safety of mining operations, and most of the drained methane is released to the atmosphere. In Poland in 2014 only 36% of 892 million m3 of drained methane from coal seams have been captured, and only 23.7% used in economic terms. Therefore, it is essential to increase its commercial use as an energy source, both in terms of ensuring work safety and environmental protection. A global challenge facing the scientific coomunity and mining system is to develop and implement more effective methods of methane gas drainage and use. It is also necessary to create friendly legislation that would facilitate and encourage the drainage and economic exploitation of methane gas, which is particularly relevant in the light of new regulations of the European Commission regarding the drastically rising fees for its emission into the atmosphere, which are due to come into force in 2020.
ICE-CMM is a non-profit organization which aim will be to support activities aimed at disseminating of best practices related to the reduction of methane gas emissions and its economically viable use as well as to promote socially acceptable practices in coal mines. The activities of ICE-CMM will include collecting, among other things, information on case studies and experience in the management of mine methane with maintained principles of sustainable development. In order to meet the needs of UNECE’s member states, it will cover research projects undertaken in cooperation with government organizations, NGOs, industry and other interested parties. ICE-CMM will also organize training courses and arrange visits of specialists in the field of mine methane gas to support and promote best practices.
Entrusting the Institute with an international centre shows recognition of the experience and qualifications of Institue’s faculty and should contribute to active development of work and research on methane drainage in underground excavations – says Jacek Skiba, an employee at GIG and Deputy Chairman of UNECE Expert Group. We must encourage communities, scientists, mining organizations, policy makers, and also the media to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities offered by the use of methane from coal seams. The Centre is a chance to develop international cooperation concerning the issue of methane and promote Polish know-how in other mining countries.
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