The capture and use of methane from coal mines is one of the effective near-term options to tackle climate change. In October 2015 UNECE and Poland signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing an International Centre of Excellence on Coal Mine Methane that would disseminate best practices in coal mine methane management. Hosted by the Central Mining Institute (GIG) in Katowice, the Centre will operate under the auspices of the UNECE Group of Experts of Coal Mine Methane.
Following recent changes in the structure of the Polish Government, more actors joined the Centre today: the Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG), and the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute (PIG-PIB).
Scott Foster, Director of the UNECE Sustainable Division, said: “I am thrilled to see that the activities on the Centre are gaining traction. With the help of PGNiG and PIG-PIB, UNECE and GIG hope to expand the reach of the Centre and engage with a wider community, including civil society, mining associations and decision-makers, in order to raise awareness on the challenges and opportunities in methane management.”
“Methane is a precious source of energy which is wasted to large extent during exploitation of coal mines. Capturing and utilization of coal mine methane should be on higher level. Cooperation within the International Centre of Excellence on Coal Mine Methane will allow for developing new technologies, increasing effectiveness in capturing and utilizing CMM as well as for extracting coal bed methane”, commented Piotr Woźniak, President of PGNiG’s Management Board.
For more information, please contact
Mr Jean Rodriguez, Chief, Information Unit, UNECE, Tel. +41 22 917 27 27 or [email protected]
Mr Marcin Poznań, Dział Public Relations, Departament Komunikacji, PGNiG SA, Head Office
Tel. +48 22 589 4143, Fax +48 22 691 8146, [email protected]
Note to editors
Coal production, transportation, storage and use account for roughly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions contribute heavily to global warming.
The new International Centre of Excellence on Coal Mine Methane is to support capacity-building activities in United Nations Member States through dissemination of best practices in economically viable methane abatement and utilisation.
The Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane promotes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from coal mines. Its activities on recovery and use of methane reduce the risks of explosions in coal mines.
PGNiG, a company under the Polish Ministry of Treasury, is the leader in hydrocarbon exploration and production, including extracting gas from unconventional deposits and coal mine methane.
PIG-PIB is an institution under the Polish Ministry of the Environment engaged in the exploration and appraisal of hydrocarbons’ deposits.