The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) member states produce 38% of the world’s
coal and generate 40% of coal mine methane (CMM)1. As a member of UNECE, Poland committed to curbing
CMM emissions through the inauguration of the International Centre of Excellence on Coal Mine
Methane (ICE-CMM) in Katowice, Poland on June 8, 2017. The Centre is a non-profit entity
established through collaborative efforts between the UNECE, its Group of Experts on
CMM and the Global Methane Initiative (GMI). The Polish partners of the ICE-CMM include the Central
Mining Institute from Katowice (GIG), Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG), Polish Geological
Institute National Research Institute (PIG PIB), and the Oil and Gas Institute National Research
Institute (INiG PIB).
Operating within the organizational structure of the Chamber of the Natural Gas Industry2, the principal objective of ICE-CMM is to actively support the Group of Experts on CMM in its capacity-building activities through dissemination of best practices for (1) economically viable methane abatement and utilization, (2) socially acceptable underground coal mine practices, and (3) environmentally responsible methane management3. The Centre is expected to contribute to further development and dissemination of the UNECE best practices for effective methane drainage and use in coal mines to reduce overall emissions from coal mining operations (see https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/energy/cmm/docs/BPG_2017.pdf).
Since the opening in 2017, the ICE-CMM in Poland has organized and contributed to important workshops focusing on Best Practices and promoting the economic and environmental value of CMM. The Polish Centre has also translated the Best Practice Guidance document into Polish and led efforts to cooperate with other Centres and CMM-related organizations across transnational boundaries. Other planned activities include, among others:
For additional information on the Poland ICE-CMM visit this UNECE link, and for information on other ICEs on CMM visit this UNECE link.